All 24 EFL Championship clubs' best forward ranked from best to worst | OneFootball

FLW has ranked each Championship club's main attacking outlet against their counterparts

The high-quality drama associated with the Championship has continued at length across the 2024/25 season, as the campaign heads into a season-defining period for many sides across one of the most entertaining divisions in world football.

There have also been plenty of top stars featuring in the second tier, with the spotlight, more often than not, remaining on those who feature at the top end of the pitch for their respective second tier outfits.

All will be aware of just how important their goals up to this point - and in the final weeks of the season - will be as a multitude of sides continue to battle for automatic promotion, a spot in the play-offs or are looking to preserve their status in the division and avoid falling into League One.

With that being said, Football League World has ranked each club's most prolific or most-used forward against their 23 counterparts.

1 Josh Sargent - Norwich City

At the top of the pile is Norwich City's clinical USMNT international Josh Sargent, who continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League.

It seems highly unlikely that the Canaries will see Sargent feature at Carrow Road next season after hitting double figures in less than 30 Championship appearances this term, with a major drop-off in form coinciding with a groin injury for the forward before he returned to score eight goals in as many matches.

Prior to this season, the former Werder Bremen man had also netted 29 goals across the past two seasons, one of which was also extremely injury-hit, so it's a mouth-watering yet also regretful prospect for Norwich fans to think about his potential numbers had he remained fully fit.

Joel Piroe was already certified as one of the division's most-lethal finishers prior to Leeds United forking out a fee in excess of £10m for the Dutchman, having banged in 46 goals in 96 appearances for Swansea City.

After still managing to hit double figures in a season where he was utilised in the 'number 10' role last term, Piroe has once again showcased why he is a top 'number nine' in the Championship this season, being part of a formidable attack and relying on Dan James and Manor Solomon's high-quality service to come to Daniel Farke's aid on several occasions.

With Leeds involved in a three-way battle for automatic promotion, Piroe will be hoping to get his first taste of Premier League football next season.

3 Wilson Isidor - Sunderland

Wilson Isidor will go down as one of the Championship's recruits of the season, with the Frenchman's goal compilation this term showcasing a great array of finishes which have cemented Sunderland's place in the play-offs.

After initially signing on loan from Zenit St Petersburg, the Black Cats opted to make the deal permanent as soon as possible in January for a nominal £3.3m fee, given his exploits at the Stadium of Light.

The 24-year-old's play-style is akin to the likes of Liam Delap, being able to hit the back of the next with extraordinary power, as well as having the capability to pull off nonchalant finishes, as the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Hull City can attest to.

However, he could also feel aggrieved that his goal tally isn't already topping the likes of Borja Sainz, Sargent and Piroe, ranking extremely high when it comes to big chances that have been spurned.

Isidor's potential and current ability has also been proven by rave reviews which were left by Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace scouts in February in the Black Cats' crushing defeat to Leeds United.

4 Tyrese Campbell - Sheffield United

Tyrese Campbell is currently enjoying the most productive season of his career, and is also in contention for the 'Signing of the Season' award after joining Sheffield United on a free transfer.

Despite not having a pre-season and making his first start for the club in October, the 25-year-old, who was linked with AFC Bournemouth in December, has been the scorer of some vital goals - none more so than his strike in the Steel City Derby back in November, and leads the way in terms of goals per 90 minutes across the division.

The man who didn't quite live up to his potential in the Potteries amid injury struggles has been given a new lease of life under Chris Wilder, and that has been echoed by the fact he has kept big-money January signing Tom Cannon out of the side.

Once again, Campbell will hope he can also prove himself as a top-level striker if the Blades are to make an instant return to the Premier League.

Haji Wright became Coventry City's club-record signing for a £7.7m fee from Alanyaspor in the summer of 2023, and it's not hard to see why then-boss, Mark Robins, paid the big bucks for the American frontman.

After a difficult start to life at the CBS Arena, Wright and strike-partner, Ellis Simms, were two of the main men behind the Sky Blues' charge towards the play-offs and a run to the FA Cup semi-finals, with this season also following somewhat of a similar pattern.

The quality of Wright's chance creation has been echoed by his ranking when it comes to xG per 90, although six of his goals came prior to Frank Lampard's appointment in November, when the striker also suffered an ankle issue.

However, Los Angeles-born man reminded everyone of his sheer class in front of goal with a hat-trick against Sunderland, and will hope to fire City back into the top flight for the first time in 24 years with a strong run of form in the games to come.

6 Zian Flemming - Burnley

Despite the fact that the likes of Lyle Foster have severely underperformed in Burnley's fine season, the same cannot be said for Zian Flemming, who has mainly operated in a centre-forward role.

Championship onlookers were already aware of the Dutchman's gifted ability on the ball and from set-piece situations, and he has come up trumps many times for Scott Parker's side this season, although the main focus has been on Burnley's defensive efforts.

The Ajax youth product also hasn't started in every game since his August move, which makes his feat in a more advanced position quite remarkable, and it has already been confirmed by Millwall boss Alex Neil that his obligatory permanent move to Turf Moor will be a formality.

7 Tommy Conway - Middlesbrough

Tommy Conway came to Middlesbrough with plenty of pressure on his shoulders, as Michael Carrick spent a £4.5m fee on the 22-year-old.

In the years to come, such a fee could turn out to be an inspired piece of business for the Teesside outfit, as the Scotland international has already hit double-figures in a season which saw him in and out of the starting lineup due to Emmanuel Latte Lath's form prior to the Ivorian's exit to Atalanta United, as well as suffering a hamstring issue.

With Conway starting to find the net again in recent weeks, there is every chance the striker could fire Boro into the top six.

8 Josh Maja - West Bromwich Albion

Josh Maja's 24/25 season has been extremely tumultuous, with it looking at one point that the West Brom striker would be in contention for the Golden Boot.

The former Bordeaux man couldn't have asked for a better start to the season with an opening-day hat-trick against QPR, before going on a run of four goals in five games as Albion were among the early-season pace-setters.

Incredibly, a tally of 12 goals in 26 appearances has kept Maja among the division's top scorers for the campaign. However, new boss Tony Mowbray may not get the chance to utilise his services until the play-off semi-finals if a top six spot can be cemented, in what came as a crushing blow to supporters ahead of the run-in.

9 Callum Robinson - Cardiff City

If Cardiff City are to preserve their Championship status, it will largely be down to Callum Robinson's goalscoring nous, with the experienced frontman hitting double figures in a side who have otherwise struggled to find the back of the net all season.

The former Preston man has averaged over 0.5 goals per 90 and is already on his richest run of form since the 2018/19 season, when he was plying his trade under Alex Neil at Deepdale.

With plenty of pivotal games left to play in South Wales, the man who netted against bitter rivals Swansea City will hope to keep the Bluebirds above the relegation trap door, having already scored twice as many goals this term than his first two seasons for the club put together.

10 Emil Riis - Preston North End

Emil Riis' spell at Preston North End has been extremely mixed on the goalscoring front. But, the man who remains out-of-contract this summer is definitely putting himself in the shop window, despite Paul Heckingbottom's hopes of tying the Dane down to a new deal.

Once again, the 26-year-old's style of play allows North End to play to his strengths in a variety of ways, as he has found the back of the net with plenty of composed finishes over the years, as well as towering over opposition centre-backs at a height of 6"3.

This season also represents the first time the previous Sheffield United target has hit double-figures since 2021/22, when he found the net on 16 occasions in the Championship.

If he is to leave the Lancashire outfit at the end of the season, Riis will hope to come close to that tally and end on a high.

11 Carlton Morris - Luton Town

Luton Town have been one of the disappointments of the season in the Championship, with back-to-back relegations remaining a distinct possibility.

And, whilst Carlton Morris has remained the club's leading light in terms of goals, the 29-year-old hasn't reached anywhere near the same levels of consistency that was shown last season in the Premier League and during the Hatters' promotion season of 2022/23, where he was the division's third-highest scorer with 20 goals to his name.

If Matt Bloomfield's side are to avoid the drop, they need Morris and his strike partner, Elijah Adebayo - who has missed the most big chances of any player in the division by some distance - to stop being extremely wasteful inside the box, as Town remain the division's lowest scorers.

12 Colby Bishop - Portsmouth

Colby Bishop's importance to Portsmouth has been showcased and then some this season, as the striker features at Championship level for the first time in his career.

The former Accrington Stanley man was integral in the Blues' title-winning season last term. And, after missing the first 14 games of the season with a heart scare, is among the top scorers in a side known for sharing the goals around.

If Pompey are to consolidate in the second tier under John Mousinho, some of Bishop's strikes against relegation rivals Cardiff City and promotion-chasing Leeds United at Fratton Park will have proven invaluable.

13 Liam Cullen - Swansea City

Liam Cullen has been one of Swansea City's most consistent performers for some time, with the Welsh international improving his goal output for the South Wales side in each of the past three seasons.

Despite facing competition from summer signing, Zan Vipotnik, Cullen has hit double figures for the first time in his career this term, rewarding the faith shown in him by the club after penning a fresh three-and-a-half year deal at the Swansea.Com Stadium back in October.

The 25-year-old also proved his worth on the international stage back in November, scoring twice and registering a brace of assists as Wales defeated Iceland 4-1 in the UEFA Nations League. No doubt, the academy graduate will be a key player for whoever takes the permanent job in South Wales in the off-season.

14 Joao Pedro - Hull City

Hull City's goalscoring issues have been a major issue under both Tim Walter and Ruben Selles. And, whilst Walter departed the MKM Stadium with next-to-no credit in the bank, City supporters can be grateful to the German for the signing of one-time Italian international Joao Pedro on a free transfer.

It's fair to say that without the 32-year-old's goals, link-up play and overall intelligence, which highlights why the former Cagliari and Fenerbahce man featured at such a high level for many years, City's season could have already been a write-off as they look to keep their heads above water in the season's final stretches.

From having just five touches of the ball against Burnley in October to scoring a sublime goal and getting dismissed against Bristol City in March, Pedro has already established himself as a cult-hero of sorts at the MKM, and the club do have an option to extend his stay beyond the end of the campaign.

There have been countless times when a promising young forward has failed to adapt to the rigours of the Championship - a statement which couldn't be said for Millwall's young Serbian, Mihailo Ivanovic.

After spending a then club-record fee for his services in the summer, the 20-year-old has flourished during his first season of English football, leading to plenty of hype and excitement regarding his future prospects.

His most notable goal thus far came against Luton Town in January, but Ivanovic's importance to the Lions has been epitomised by a plethora of match-winning strikes - four in total, including last-minute goals against Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City at the Den.

16 Michael Smith - Sheffield Wednesday

Goals from natural centre-forwards have been hard to come by for Sheffield Wednesday this season, despite the Owls' progression under Danny Rohl.

Michael Smith is currently the club's second-highest scorer behind Josh Windass - who has reached double figures - although uncertainty continues to surround the 32-year-old's future at Hillsborough.

The former Rotherham United man has shown his quality on the ball and in the air time and time again in S6, including a remarkable long-distance effort against Portsmouth in the early stages of the campaign.

Wednesdayites will be hoping for an update on his future sooner rather than later, with Wrexham potentially waiting in the wings to reignite their January interest.

17 Makhtar Gueye - Blackburn Rovers

Makhtar Gueye has enjoyed a solid, if not spectacular, first season with Blackburn Rovers as the Lancashire side's season has also represented a mixed bag.

The Senegalese forward has registered over 10 goal contributions for the season in a side who have remained notoriously goal-shy under John Eustace and Valerien Ismael.

Gueye's best spell in front of goal came at the turn of the year against Preston North End and West Brom, which included a double at the Hawthorns in which he showed the best of his attacking intelligence to draw and convert a penalty, as well as his poacher's instinct to secure the points.

However, such form hasn't lasted consistently throughout the season, which is his and Rovers' major shortcoming.

18 Nahki Wells - Bristol City

Nahki Wells has become part of the furniture at Bristol City since joining the club back in January 2020 for £5m.

However, there is an argument that whilst the Bermudan has provided plenty of experience, he has rarely lived up to such a hefty price tag at Ashton Gate.

To his credit, Wells has still scored a respectable tally of goals this term for the Robins despite starting in just over half of his appearances.

But, there's no shying away from the fact that his output has started to decrease in recent seasons, leaving the club with a big decision to make as his contract expires in June.

19 Vakoun Bayo - Watford (On loan from Udinese)

Vakoun Bayo has delighted and frustrated Watford supporters in equal measure this season, with the striker hitting double figures for the first time in Hertfordshire, which included an extraordinary four-goal haul in a 6-2 success over Sheffield Wednesday in November.

However, the striker who ranks high for xG per 90 minutes has also been extremely guilty of spurning clear-cut opportunities, missing over 15 big chances - and, with nine of his goals coming prior to New Year's Day, supporters' concerns regarding his form and the need to source a clinical striker are understandable.

Bayo's form has dropped off significantly of late despite a three-game suspension, and it is no surprise that Tom Cleverley hasn't yet made a decision on the Ivorian's future at the club, with his second loan spell from Udinese set to conclude at the end of the campaign.

20 Jerry Yates - Derby County (on loan from Swansea City)

Once again, in a side who have lacked a spark in front of goal for large parts of the season, Jerry Yates could prove to be a difference-maker if Derby County are to maintain their Championship status after an impressive upsurge of form under John Eustace.

The Swansea City loanee has been a prominent fixture under Paul Warne and the new boss, with his work-rate also making him a fans' favourite with the Pride Park faithful.

Yates was undoubtedly a standout performer for Blackpool during their two-year return to the Championship, which included a 14-goal haul in the Tangerines' relegation season.

Whilst he may not hit the exact same tally with the Rams this term, there's no doubt he would swap that to keep the East Midlands side in the division, with his parent club also potentially looking to keep him next term under a new manager.