We’re only a few weeks into the Championship season but already you can see the importance of goals in England’s second tier. Widely regarded as one of the most competitive leagues across Europe, games in the Championship are often defined by small margins — moments of brilliance that separate two teams who will have even busier schedules than usual due to the World Cup in November.
Goals are a priceless commodity and having someone lead the line that guarantees goals is always a good bet for a team’s chances with English Championship predictions.
Last season saw Aleksandar Mitrović break Ivan Toney’s previously set record for the most goals in a season with 43. Could anyone break that this campaign? Read on, as we look at the favourites to lead the Championship Top Scorer award come the end of the season.
Andreas Weimann
Having bounced around clubs in England for over a decade now, Austrian forward Andreas Weimann looks to have finally found his best form in a Bristol City shirt. The Robins were craving a goal scorer after their lacklustre form saw them flirt with relegation last season, and after finding the back of the net 22 times last term he’s started the new one like house on fire with three goals in as many games for Nigel Pearson’s strugglers.
Weimann looks far improved from the player we saw in the Premier League, and he’s finally found his feet as a mercenary in the second tier, now the task appears to be grabbing an individual award for his effort.
Ellis Simms
Arriving at Sunderland on loan from Everton, Ellis Sims was once one of the hottest properties as a youth player for England and at Finch Farm but injuries hampered his development. After being sent out on consecutive loans to Blackpool and Hearts, he looks to have discovered his goals ring touch at the Stadium of Light, with a series of clever strikes for the Black Cats in the early stages of the season.
Simms will be hoping to force his way into Frank Lampard’s plans in the coming months, especially if Anthony Gordon is to depart Goodison Park, but if he stays at Sunderland all season, expect him to be right in the race for Top Scorer.
Ben Brereton Díaz
If you ever want an example of what love and affection can do for a player’s confidence look no further than Ben Brereton Díaz. The Stoke-born Chile international is staying at Blackburn Rovers for the season after extending his contract at Ewood Park, and despite a drop in form at the back end of last season, his goal record internationally and at the start of this term has certainly been impressive.
His future remains unclear, with several Premier League clubs interested in his signature but if the 24-year-old can spur Rovers to a push for the play-offs there’s an outside chance he and new boss Jon Dahl Tomasson can bring top-flight football back to Lancashire.
The Danish boss joked about his Ewood Park departure, insisting he wants his star striker to stay and add players that will suit him.
“There is always speculation surrounding him,” he said. “I am always talking about him. He is a good boy and he is a quality player. As I have said many times, if there is a bid, it is the amount of the bid. He would cost £30m in my eye”
If you compare with last season, we have three new players in. I’d like to get some bodies in, the club is working on that. Hopefully, we get those in, soon.
