England Football: The Big Number Nine Is Coming – Where Has the English Stressor Gone?

The decline in English strikers is down to a number of factors according to BBC Pundit Chris Sutton, including a 10-goal spell at Blackburn in 1997-98.

One reason is a lack of appearances. From the table above, WALBECK, Watkins and Calvert-Lewin have started more than three league games this season, while NSETIAH, SOLEKE AND BARNES have yet to start.

“If you look at the 1990s, players like Jurgen Klinsmann and Dennis Bergkamp started coming from abroad but the total number of foreign strikes was lower,” explained Sutton.

“The number one striker of my era was Shearer but if you went through the teams, then there were so many brilliant English centre-forwards like Ian Wright, Les Ferdinand, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham, Robbie Fowler and David Hirst – you could add Stan Collymore and Dion Dublin to that list too.

“There was an unbelievable number of them, even before Michael Owen came in before the 1998 World Cup, and all different types of strikers.

“One of the differences is that they all play every week, because how many English centers will start for their clubs in clubs that will attract elsewhere.

“The other change we’ve seen is the teams set up. I’m not saying it’s all a strict 4-4-2 in my day, but better sides, but more edges in it, but more edges in it, but more edges in it, but more edges in it, but more edges in it, but more edges in it, but more edges in it, but more edges with two striker today.

“In other ways, things are missing in whole teams like City City, Arsenal and more sevens in the first. There are a lot of English.”