The English Premier League boasts of some of the best attacking names in the world with the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Alexis Sanchez, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy living up to the legacy of superstars such as Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez over the course of the last few seasons. Their goal scoring instincts, ability to find time and space in a congested box and acrobatic efforts have made them a subject of numerous team talks for the oppositions.
While the Kanes and Vardys have been hogging the limelight, there are certain names that have not received as much credit as they get. The reason for the same could range from having a disastrous spell with another club in the past to being a number one striker for a smaller club. In this segment, we profile some of the most underrated strikers in the Premier League.
#1 Troy Deeney (Watford)
The Watford striker and captain has been a fine servant for his club, having scored an incredible 96 goals for them since making his move to the club in 2010-11. Given his abilities, it comes as no surprise that when Leicester approached Watford for the player, Watford asked the Foxes to stump up £20 million to acquire his services.
He played a direct part in half of Watford’s 40 Premier League goals last season with 13 goals and 7 assists and will need to continue with his fine form if Watford are to renew their status as a Premier League club come the end of the season.
While he might be regarded very highly by the Watford faithful, Watford’s valuation of £20 million for the player drew a lot of criticism. Nevertheless, the industrious striker remains one of the best men to have in the box, especially for a mid-table club.
#2 Andy Carroll (West Ham United)
The former Liverpool and Newcastle man has been rather unlucky in the past with numerous injuries and record transfer fees hampering his performances. However, the West Ham forward, when fit, is a menace to handle in the box, especially with his intimidating aerial prowess.
The 27-year-old scored 9 goals and assisted 2 more in his 27 appearances last season. While those numbers are not too bad for a player who spent a lot of time on the medical table, there’s much more to those numbers in the game. His presence in the box draws a lot of defenders towards him, thus freeing up space for his companions.
The striker made the news recently, scoring 2 goals against European heavyweights Juventus and should be looking forward to the new season. Should he remain fit for a large part of the season, he could prove to be a vital cog in the wheel for Slaven Bilic.
#3 Wilfried Bony (Manchester City)
Wilfried Bony arrived at The Etihad as one of the most prolific strikers in English football. However, lack of playing time coupled with injuries has led to a reduction in the player’s stock as one of the best strikers in the League. Further, the transfer of Nolito from Spain is only expected to reduce his playing time in the upcoming season.
A strong yet mobile striker, Bony definitely knows where the back of the goal is and would walk into numerous teams in England, especially, the mid-table ones. His primary strengths are his abilities in the air, ability to hold on to the ball and finishing, making him a complete package.
Recent reports suggest that Bony could be on his way to Everton for a fee believed to be in the region of £15 million. While that might leave the Manchester club poorer by £15 million, the club is looking to let the player leave in a bid to salvage the best they can out of the striker.
#4 Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)
While the Frenchman has been the first choice centre-forward at the club for some time now, Arsenal fans do not perceive of him as one of the top strikers in the league and that is one of the reasons that make him one of the most underrated strikers in the league.
He scored 24 goals in 54 appearances last season, a personal best for the striker ever since he joined from Montpellier and has been amongst the top 3 goal scorers at his club since signing. Giroud has a great ability in front of the goal, is a constant aerial threat and contributes to his side defensively from the front.
However, he can be inconsistent and the same has often cost his team in recent past, as they have slipped at crucial times during the season, despite being termed as favourites. Should he prove to be more consistent in the upcoming season, Arsenal could prove to be an unstoppable force in the upcoming season.
#5 Danny Ings (Liverpool)
The former Burnley man has been unable to establish himself as a first-choice striker at Anfield with the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino, and Divock Origi proving to manager Jurgen Klopp’s preferred choices over him. Plagued by a long term injury in his very first season with the Reds, Ings has even been linked with a move away from the club. However, recent news suggests that he is ready to stay at the Merseyside and fight for his place in the squad.
An instinctive and industrious player with a decent goal scoring record for smaller clubs, Ings is a player who could thrive with quality around him. The last 2 seasons of his tenure with Burnley proved to be his best as he found the back of the net on 37 occasions in 82 appearances and it would please a lot of Liverpool fans if the Winchester-born striker can replicate the form.
