5 Most Underrated Premier League Strikers of All Time

Most Underrated Premier League Strikers

Whether it’s occasional wayward finishing, the odd heavy touch or because they didn’t play for a big team, these ever reliable strikers are often overlooked by many and are the most underrated Premier League strikers of all-time.

5. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink doesn’t believe in scoring ordinary goals and he’s one of the most underrated Premier League strikers of all-time. In his younger years he was involved in gangs and even carried a shiv around for protection. After a rough upbringing he got his break with Dutch side SC Telstar.

Hasselbaink scored 127 goals in 288 Premier League games playing for Leeds, Chelsea and Middlesbrough. It was Hasselbaink’s time at Stamford Bridge which was most memorable where he had a strike rate of one goal in every two games. He knew how to find the back of the net and had lightning quick pace, but it was his explosive shot which was his most devastating trait.

Hasselbaink became a two-time Golden Boot winner while at Leeds and Chelsea. Alongside Alan Shearer and Robin van Persie they are the only players to win the Golden Boot at two different clubs.


4. Shola Ameobi

Shola Ameobi became a cult hero during his 14 years at Newcastle. Opinion remains divided on Tyneside as to just how good he was and that alone makes him one of the most underrated premier league strikers of all-time. Yes, Ameobi’s talent was limited but he made up for that with his hard work as he rose through the ranks of the Newcastle academy.

Ameobi made 298 Premier League appearances despite facing stiff competition for a starting spot. At one point he was behind Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy and Patrick Kluivert in the pecking order.

He was then behind Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Obefemi Martins. Ameobi scored 43 goals in the Premier League and at one stage held the record for most substitute appearances with 142, almost half of his games. It was his ability to show up for the biggest games which earned him the nickname ‘Mackem Slayer’, thanks to his 7 goals in 16 games against bitter rivals Sunderland.

3. Emile Heskey

During his time at Liverpool, Emile Heskey always looked unfavourable against the more glamorous Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler. He was more than just a heavy touch and a wayward effort.

His combination of pace, physical strength and intelligence makes Heskey one of the most underrated strikers in Premier League history. He relied mostly on brute power but he was unselfish too, allowing others around him to be able to shine.


Heskey had an uninterrupted 16-year career in the Premier League but toward the end of his career he did lose the magic touch he once had. During the peak of his game however, Heskey was unplayable and was close to being a complete player.

2. James Beattie

Despite injuries and issues with form earlier in his career, Jamie Beattie became one of the most underrated players in Premier League history. Beattie played for the lesser stature clubs like Blackburn, Southampton, Everton, Stoke and Blackpool during his time in the top flight but he would have been good enough to play at one of the bigger clubs.


Beattie’s form at times was erratic. He went through extended periods where he couldn’t find the back of the net, then went on scoring runs that put him up among one of the best strikers in the league.

He finished third in the Golden Boot race in 2002-03 behind only Thierry Henry and Ruud van Nistelrooy and finished his Premier League career with a very respectable 91 goals and 37 assists in 331 games. Beattie played an instrumental role in keeping the teams he played for relevant.

1. Oliver Giroud

Olivier Giroud is one of the most underrated Premier League players in history. He was never considered an elite finisher nor was he a glamorous player. Giroud lacked speed and presented more like a battering ram than anything. Although he was always stuck in gear one and heΒ lacked explosiveness, he was capable of his moments of sheer brilliance.

Giroud had a surprisingly exquisite touch and could flick the ball on well, knocking down opportunities for those around him.

But Arsenal fans weren’t accustomed to his target man style of play with players like Anelka, Henry, Bergkamp and Wright tearing it up before him. Giroud’s due much more credit than what he gets, his physical strength, heading accuracy and his powerful shot leading to 90 goals in 255 Premier League games.

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