With the January transfer window now closed, the focus will switch from making transfers off the pitch to scoring goals on it and the race for the EFL Championship golden boot is heating up.
Currently, nine Championship players have hit double figures this season.
However, Emmanuel Latte Lath’s 11 goals will stay at that figure due to his deadline day move to Atlanta United in the MLS.
West Bromwich Albion striker Josh Maja suffered a calf injury against Swansea City on January 4th and will therefore be side-lined for an extended period.
Maja hit 12 goals before sustaining his injury. West Brom released a statement on January 14th stating: “The 26-year-old striker will undergo surgery in the coming days before entering a period of rehabilitation.
“Albion hope to have Maja back in contention during the spring.”
The Nigerian international is due back mid-April but by that time Maja might be too far back to catch the leading pack in the race for the golden boot.
https://thedeck.news/championship-top-scorers/
Who are the remaining contenders?
Borja Sainz – Norwich City (15 goals)
Sainz leads the way in the race for the golden boot and has done so for most of the season, but his grasp on the top scorer award is slipping due to his recent suspension.
The Canaries attacker was handed a six-game ban for spitting at Sunderland defender Chris Mepham back in December.
Sainz last played for Norwich on January 4th in a 2-1 win over Coventry City and has since served five games of his six-match ban.
The Spaniard will be looking to add to his 15 goals when he returns from suspension against Preston North End on February 11th.
Joel Piroe – Leeds United (13 goals)
The Leeds striker added his 13th goal of the season in the league leaders 2-0 win over Coventry on Wednesday.
The former Netherlands Under-19 international has been in fine form of late, registering six goals and two assists in his last 10 appearances and scoring three in his last two games.
Piroe has the best chance of any candidates on the list to catch Sainz and claim the golden boot.
Callum Robinson – Cardiff City (11 goals)
Not many people would have expected the Cardiff City striker to have scored 11 goals by the beginning of February.
Robinson has only hit double figures in his career twice before, with the last coming for Preston North End in the 2018/19 season when he netted 12 goals.
The Republic of Ireland international’s best tally since then came for West Brom in 2021/22 with seven goals.
Robinson has six goals and one assist in his last seven games as well as a red card against Coventry which seen him serve a three-match ban before returning to score two against Swansea City in a 3-0 derby win.
Wilson Isidor – Sunderland (10 goals)
The French striker turned his loan deal permanent for the Black Cats in the January transfer window and has in turn delivered for Sunderland.
Isidor scored a fine goal against rivals Middlesbrough on Monday night with Sunderland taking all three points back to Wearside in a 3-2 win.
Despite netting his 10th of the season against ‘Boro’, Isidor could have scored 13 goals along with Piroe.
The former Zenit player missed two late penalties against Burnley in January and then four days later, to the bemusement of many, he had a goal ruled out against Derby County.
Josh Windass – Sheffield Wednesday (10 goals)
Windass is on course for his best league campaign in English football since he netted 16 times for Accrington Stanley in League Two during the 2015/16 season.
The Wednesday striker also netted 13 league goals for Rangers in 2017/18 and 12 for the Owls during their promotion winning campaign from League One in the 2022/23 season.
This season is the first time Windass has hit double figures in the Championship at the sixth attempt.
However, most of Windass’ goals came before the turn of the year with the Wednesday striker netting just once in his last seven games since January 1st.
Vakoun Issouf Bayo – Watford (10 goals)
Bayo has hit double figures for Watford in back-to-back seasons after matching last season’s tally of 10 goals.
However, the Ivory Coast international will now have to serve a three-match ban after seeing a straight red card against Norwich last weekend.
Aside from the red card, Bayo has also been in poor form of late netting just one goal in his last 10 Championship appearances.
Once he returns, Watford fans will be hoping to see the Bayo that scored four times against Sheffield Wednesday back in November during their 6-2 win over the Owls.
Callum Lang – Portsmouth (10 goals)
Lang also found the back of the net four times in a game this season during Portsmouth’s 4-1 win over Coventry in December.
The Pompey striker has scored six times at Fratton Park this season in only nine appearances at home.
The former Wigan Athletic forward is on course for his best league campaign since he scored 16 goals in League One with the Latics in 2021/22.