Norwich forward Teemu Pukki has made a stunning start to life in the Premier League – but how will he compare to some of the promoted strikers of the past over the course of the season?
Get our Norwich vs Chelsea predictions and betting tips for this weekend
Having scored Norwich’s consolation in their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool on the opening day, Finnish striker Teemu Pukki grabbed a hat-trick for the Canaries in their first home game back at top tier against Newcastle last weekend.
Having failed to make an impact at the likes of Schalke 04 and Celtic in the past, it appeared Pukki’s chances of shining on the big stage were starting to pass him by, but he racked up no fewer than 29 league goals last term to help lead the Norfolk side back to the Championship.
And judging by the quality of his finishing against Newcastle, the 29 year old is out to prove a point in the Premier League this season – but how will his first year in the Premier League compare to promoted strikers of the past?
Well, Andy Cole’s tally of 34 in the 1993/1994 season for Newcastle United remains to this day the join highest amount of goals scored in a single season by a Premier League player.
Kevin Phillips won the golden boot in 1999/2000 with his 30 goals whilst Stan Collymore, Andy Johnson and Peter Beardsley have all managed more than 20 goals following promotion from the second tier.
Reaching Cole’s tally of 34 seems highly unlikely now, particularly with the season being shorter and the more competitive nature of the league making it difficult for teams to make such an impact when coming into the Premier League.
But Pukki has all of the traits of a top-class goalscorer. Where he perhaps lacks the pace and power of other Premier League strikers, he remains deadly in front of goal through his intelligence, composure and accuracy plus his ability to score different types of goals.
Having a goalscorer that can manage 15 or more goals can be absolutely vital for promoted teams in looking to avoid relegation, but Norwich will have set their sights higher than that this season and after the start he has had, Pukki will surely be looking for a tally higher than 15 too.
The last man to score that many goals in a Premier League season for the Carrow Road outfit was Grant Holt, back in 2011/2012 and there are plenty of similarities to be drawn between the two forward players, although perhaps not in playing style.
Holt, like Pukki, had plenty of experience when he reached the Premier League, but had never played at the top level before having suffered setbacks and perhaps being held back by his rather old-fashioned centre forward style of play.
The 15 goals he scored that season showed his quality though and even led to some media outlets calling for the ex-Nottingham Forest man to be called up to England’s Euro 2012 squad.
He never made it as far as the national team, but ‘Holty’ is still fondly remembered by all at Carrow Road, not least for helping keep the Canaries in the Premier League that season with his goalscoring prowess, something that Pukki will hope to emulate this term.
There’s a lot of competition for the golden boot this season, but Pukki has raced into a very early lead with those four goals in his first two appearances and you can back him to go all the way and win that race at odds of 28/1 with Bet365.
Many bookmakers also offer requested odds and we’ve found a few with William Hill that may be of interest In the Premier League #YourOdds section you can back Teemu Pukki to score over 16 PL goals at 1/5, and over 19 PL goals at 6/4.
MORE: Get our Norwich vs Chelsea predictions and betting tips for this weekend
Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki (PA Images)
