5 underrated strikers in the Premier League right now

Liverpool vs Leeds United - Premier League
Liverpool vs Leeds United - Premier League

The Premier League has some of the best strikers in the world right now. The league boosts great strikers like Harry Kane, Edinson Cavani and Jamie Vardy, among others.

With the return of Romelu Lukaku and Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, the Premier League now has some stellar goalscorers. That makes the Golden Boot race more interesting this season.


Some impressive Premier League strikers have gone unnoticed

The presence of world-class strikers means others tend to get less recognition despite performing well. Nevertheless, these strikers have thrived under the pressure of the Premier League and delivered the goods.

On that note, here's a look at five such players:


#5 Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a clinical finisher in the Premier League.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a clinical finisher in the Premier League.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a well-known figure at Merseyside these days. The English striker graduated from Sheffield United's youth academy. Calvert-Lewin initially played as a box-to-box midfielder.

After being promoted to the senior team in 2014, the Englishman was sent on loan to Stalybridge Celtic and Northampton Town, where he started playing as a striker. Everton signed the 24-year old for a fee of £1.5 million in the summer of 2016.

In the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he scored twice, including the winner in the final against Venezuela. Post his World Cup heroics, Calvert-Lewin became a regular starter for Everton. He has scored 43 goals in 150 Premier League games for the club, including 16 last season.

The 2020-21 season was his most fruitful, as he was awarded Everton's Player of the Season. Calvert-Lewin is sharp, makes intelligent runs in the box and can score some fine headers too. He is one of the most effective strikers in the Premier League, and deserves to be acknowledged more.


#4 Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Ollie Watkins had an impressive first season in the Premier League.
Ollie Watkins had an impressive first season in the Premier League.

Watkins is a product of Exeter City's academy. It was a struggle for the Englishman to break into the first team before he became a starter.

After impressive performances with Exeter City, Watkins joined Brentford in the Championship in 2017. The striker did quite well playing for the Bees, scoring 45 goals in the Championship.

The 25-year old's consistency in front of goal earned him a move to the Premier League last season. Watkins was reunited with his former manager Dean Smith at Aston Villa. The Villa striker scored 14 goals and recorded five Premier League assists last season.

He was also selected in the provisional England squad for UEFA Euro 2020. Watkins likes to take on defenders and drift to the wings, and he's adept with his headers and finishing too. After Jack Grealish's departure this summer to Manchester City, Watkins' role for the Lions has become more important.

#3 Patrick Bamford (Leeds United)

Leeds United vs Newcastle United - Premier League
Leeds United vs Newcastle United - Premier League

Patrick Bamford has played for many Premier League teams. The English striker was signed by Chelsea in 2012. But he was loaned out to Milton Keyes Dons, Derby County, Middlesbrough, Crystal Palace, Norwich City and Burnley in the span of five years.

After failing to break through at Chelsea, Bamford returned to Middlesbrough on a permanent deal. He spent a year and a half with Boro, before the former Palace striker secured a move to Leeds United.

Under new manager Marcelo Bielsa, Bamford rediscovered his mojo. He scored 16 goals in the 2019-20 season to help Leeds United return to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years. Last season, he was one of the league's most prolific scorers, scoring 17 goals.

Bamford is an elegant finisher with his left foot. The 28-year-old can head the ball well, and can also provide assists. If he can replicate his last season's exploits, he could become a target for some of the top teams in the Premier League, including Chelsea.


#2 Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City)

Leicester City vs West Bromwich Albion - Premier League
Leicester City vs West Bromwich Albion - Premier League

Kelechi Iheanacho is a product of the Manchester City academy. He impressed in the 2015 preseason tour and got promoted to the senior squad.

In the two seasons he spent at City, the 24-year-old scored 12 times in 46 Premier League games. Unfortunately, the presence of Sergio Aguero meant Iheanacho struggled for game time. That affected his form, and he moved to Leicester City in 2017.

The former City striker struggled for a first-team place with the Foxes in his first two years. Last season, though, the Nigerian shifted gears, scoring 12 goals in 25 appearances. That was impressive, as Leicester City were missing several key players due to injury.

Iheanacho remains a key player for the 2015-16 Premier League winners. With Jamie Vardy in the squad, it is understandable why Iheanacho has struggled to start more games. But whenever he has got the chance, he has tried to make the most of it.


#1 Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)

Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth - Premier League
Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth - Premier League

A product of the Coventry City academy, Callum Wilson spent five years with the Sky Blues. He spent two of those seasons on loan with Kettering Town and Tamworth. He was named Coventry City's Player of the Year in 2013-14, scoring 21 goals in 37 appearances.

Wilson was signed by Bournemouth in 2014, and made an instant impact. In his first season, he scored 20 Championship goals, helping the Cherries earn promotion to the Premier League for the very first time.

A rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee marred his first two campaigns in the Premier League. Wilson was more involved in the next three seasons. He has scored 41 goals in 126 Premier League games for Bournemouth.

With the Cherries getting relegated at the end of the 2019-20 season, Wilson was signed by Newcastle United. Last season, the 29-year old scored 12 goals in 26 appearances and assisted five.

Goalscoring comes very naturally to Wilson. So with fewer injuries and more game time, he has the potential to offer a lot more in the Premier League.

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