Gab Sutton Weekly: My fancies for the EFL top goalscorer markets

EFL pundit Gab Sutton picks his best bets in the top goalscorer markets in his latest weekly column for Odds Now.

Championship lacking quality?

I’d be backing Haji Wright to be the top goalscorer in the Championship. Boring to just back the favourite at 5/1? Maybe. But I also think in the second-tier, there’s a dearth of strong, goalscoring centre-forwards.

The fact Oli McBurnie is third in the list at 10s kind of proves my point.

Jay Stansfield only scored 10 open play goals in League One last season, and seven of them were when another physical striker was on the pitch with him – i.e. Lyndon Dykes or Lukas Jutkiewicz.

I don’t think Stansfield’s hold-up play is strong enough to be the out-and-out centre-forward for a full season, and when he plays just off Kyogo Furuhashi, the former Celtic man is a nimble, goal-oriented striker as opposed to the type that will occupy defenders.

So, I don’t see Stanno topping the charts at 16s, and beyond that, you’re looking at players who are either playing wide, rather than down the middle (Jaden Philogene), for a weaker team (Richard Kone), or don’t exactly have a prolific recent history, and you’re gambling on potential (Tommy Conway).

With that in mind, I’m happy to take Wright at 5s, just on the basis that he’s playing down the middle, he’ll start every game, due to other options being somewhat out of favour, and is playing for arguably the most creative team in the Championship so far this season.

Tolaj at the top in League One

In League One, meanwhile, I think the value is with Lorent Tolaj at 10s.

I saw him for Plymouth Argyle in their 4-0 thumping of Burton, and he looked lethal, constantly stretching the line with his penetrative runs in behind, using his physicality to get ahead of defenders – and he has a cool finish at the end of it.

Tolaj did fantastic work in the National League with Aldershot, then in League Two with Port Vale, and he has a raw edge about him that strikers without his lower league experience might not have.

Meanwhile, he’s playing in a team that operates with a second forward, most recently Owen Oseni, a skilful number 10 in Bradley Ibrahim handed plenty of creative freedom, and attacking wing-backs in Bali Mumba and Matthew Sorinola, providing ammunition for this youthful, vibrant side under a talented, hardworking coach in Tom Cleverley.

Plus, Alfie May might be the favourite at 13/2, but he’s not quite got going just yet, with only two goals to his name, whereas Tolaj already has four.

Udoh the standout in League Two

As far as League Two goes, Daniel Udoh is the value play at 33s.

Udoh doesn’t have a prior reputation of being prolific, but that’s largely because the bulk of his tenure at Shrewsbury played under Steve Cotterill, who doesn’t have the most attacking approach.

The club was also often a bottom-half team at League One level generally, and then at Wycombe, he frequently found himself behind Richard Kone.

Dropping down a level, however, to be the main man and play for a good team for the division, has really helped Udoh: he’s quick, strong, selfless, can create chances for himself and finish.

The former Telford hotshot has had an exciting start to the campaign at Salford and is getting rave reviews in performances, and that should translate to goals very quickly.

Gab Sutton's EFL top goalscorer betting tips

Championship – Haji Wright (Coventry) – 5/1 (various)

League One – Lorent Tolaj (Plymouth) - 10/1 (various)

League Two – Daniel Udoh - 33/1 (Bet365)