A forward in today’s footballing world has so much more to do than just score goals for his team. Thanks to the ever-evolving world of football, forwards like Daniel Sturridge and even Sergio Aguero are falling off the face of the earth. In the modern game, managers want their front-men to become much more involved in the game instead of purely being penalty box poachers, which in turn has caused an evolution in today’s forwards.
Forwards, in the Premier League especially, are much more than just ordinary goal-scorers. They are players who are expected to drop deep – sometimes into their own halves –block passing lanes, press the opposition, hold up play and even bring their teammates into the game, all this while leading the line on their own.
All of this depends on one thing and one thing only and that is an exceptional work rate.
Not every day do forwards with such exceptional quality turn up in the Premier league but given that the majority of the Premier League’s hardworking players are midfielders, here are a few strikers that can also run the distance.
#5 Harry Kane
It was no accident that Harry Kane went into the Euro 2016 as one of the most feared strikers in the world, it was the result of years of hard-work and dedication. It’s his insatiable appetite for the game that puts him on this list. A few years ago one would have never bet on it but Kane has managed to make the Premier League his playground with his non-stop sprinting and his insatiable appetite to perform better in each and every game.
(Video Courtesy: byShowtime YouTube Channel)
After starting regularly during the 2014/2015 season, Kane showed exactly what he was capable of, hounding defenders and goalkeepers with his work-rate and his incredible eye for goal as he finished the season with 21 league goals. He did it again last season, this time beating Sergio Aguero and Jamie Vardy to the Golden Boot. This combined with his work-rate helped Tottenham finish in the top four with one of the best defensive records.
Since 2015, Kane has covered an average of 10.8 km every game, clocking in nearly 500km in total, as of September 2016.
From a scoring substitute to one of the first names on the teamsheet, Kane has come a long way but he has still managed to retain the qualities that brought him through the ranks – the manic energy, and incredible work rate.
#4 Jamie Vardy
While Leicester City’s title win is largely credited to Claudio Ranieri, it would have never happened, if it wasn’t for the fact that he had players like Riyad Mahrez, N’Golo Kante and of course the incredible Jamie Vardy. While the entire Leicester team, including Vardy have been lacklustre this season, last season’s Jamie Vardy was simply beyond brilliant, with even Thierry Henry praising him.
The Arsenal legend praised the striker’s immense work rate, stamina and ability to chase after lost causes. Last season, whenever Leicester City didn’t have the ball, Vardy was at work pressing high up the pitch, trying to intercept passes between goalkeeper and defenders.
(Video Courtesy: LCFC YouTube Channel)
He does this for 90 minutes every weekend, every single game he has played. This season, despite the lacklustre performances, Vardy has still covered an average of 10.1 km per 90 minutes while making an average of 58 sprints per game, compared to last season’s 54 sprints per game.
Just imagine how horrible the defenders must have felt with a player like Vardy sprinting throughout the match giving them no room to play and calmly work the ball out of their half. Vardy’s game is similar to greyhounds at a track – pestering relentlessly and waiting for a single mistake before he pounces.
#3 Shane Long
When a teammate scores a hat-trick against one of the richest clubs in the world, it will always be very difficult to take the Man of the Match award from him, but that’s exactly what Shane Long did last season. While Sadio Mane was plundering Joe Hart’s goal during Southampton’s 4-2 win over Manchester City, the 30-year-old Irishman was sprinting around the pitch, pressurising defenders and making runs that allowed Mane to run riot on the City’s goal.
However, that was exactly why Ronald Koeman paid nearly £12 million pounds to bring Long from Hull City. Whilst Long isn’t the most prolific striker in the Premier League, he more than makes up for it by making himself a nuisance in the and around the box for defenders.
(Video Courtesy: PlanetFootballVINES YouTube Channel)
Combined with his height the striker is strong and with his sensational stamina and never ending running that works defenders into a ground, he’s become an incredible asset for the Saints. On average the striker covers a distance of 9.72 km per 90 minutes but in his best 90 so far, he’s covered nearly 12 km!
However, the 30-year-old striker is a rather peculiar case because despite having the ability and the physical prowess to become a lethal forward for Southampton, his criticism is that he’s never managed to score goals consistently. Compared to his fellow strikers, the Irishman’s technical ability is called into question and Long has also struggled with his finishing in the final third.
#2 Diego Costa
Diego Costa is a battering ram with stamina and footballing ability. That's exactly what has made him such a success at Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, especially when he's played to his strengths. The 28-year-old striker is a bully on the ball and off it, presses defenders into making mistakes before pouncing on defenders and finishes even half chances with considerable ease.
(Video Courtesy: CFCVideosII YouTube Channel)
He’s been much better than he was last season, covering a minimum of 10km per game and has made nearly 65.2 sprints per game compared to last season’s 62 sprints per game.
Strong, tireless and quick in his pursuit of the ball, he finally found a permanent place in a team after five temporary spells at other clubs at Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid and became the perfect striker for Simeone’s counter-attacking style of play. He constantly provokes defenders, pushing the boundaries of legal tackles and challenges that the defenders become lost in their 1v1 battle, that they forget about the match.
A player who plays the way of the Spaniard international doesn’t usually top any coach’s list of role models but the striker does have a reputation of crossing the line when it comes to aggression on the pitch. However given his change under Antonio Conte, the 28-year-old has become one of the most feared strikers in the Premier League and is just one goal behind top scorer Harry Kane, Alexis Sanchez, and Romelu Lukaku.
#1 Alexis Sanchez
The Tasmanian devil from Chile, the man who runs on Duracell batteries, and a goal scoring machine – take your pick or even add a few other for Alexis Sanchez because every footballer on the planet wants to know what the Chilean superstar runs on.
Ever since his move to the Emirates from Barcelona, the 28-year-old has blitzed his way right into the hearts of Gooner’s worldwide and after all, where would Arsenal be without Alexis? Last season, despite injury troubles towards November, Alexis in 21 appearances covered nearly 200 km while creating 56 chances for other players!
(Video Courtesy: ArsenalVideosHD YouTube Channel)
The Chilean has been fantastic since his move and has become Arsenal’s top scorer this season while providing the most assists for the Gunners. A very expressive player, his desire to win is exactly what Arsenal have needed and ever since Arsene Wenger decided to move the Chilean further forward and experiment him as a centre-forward, Alexis has been brilliant.
The 28-year-old has been torturing defenders, pressing extremely high and forcing them to make major mistakes before capitalising and converting them into chances.
His determination to succeed and win the ball back is simply sublime and may be exactly what the Gunners will miss if the Chilean leaves during the summer transfer window.
