Which star frontmen are suffering through a painful goal drought so far this season?…
1. Papiss Cisse
Cisse has struggled to emulate the blistering form that saw him net 13 times in as many games for Newcastle during the second half of the 2011/12 campaign. The 27-year-old hasn’t scored for the Magpies since mid-April (a run of 10 games spanning this season and last) and is a man in chronic need of a confidence boost….and a goal.
2. Arouna Kone
After such an impressive debut season in the Premier League for Wigan, in which he bagged 13 goals for the relegated Latics, the net has yet to ripple for Kone in an Everton shirt. Despite a profitable spell under Roberto Martinez at the DW Stadium the Ivorian has already lost his place in the Toffees attack to Nikica Jelavic.
3. Fernando Torres
Torres was on the bench once again for Chelsea during the 1-0 defeat at Everton on Saturday – an indicator of just how far the striker has fallen since a £50m switch to Stamford Bridge in 2010. The once great El Nino relegated to bit-part player at a club with just two other strikers on their books – it just doesn’t sound right.
4. Dimitar Berbatov
Many were surprised when Berbatov left Manchester United to join Fulham last summer but it proved a shrewd move as he notched 15 goals for the Cottagers in his debut campaign. This season, however, has been one of frustration for the insouciant Bulgarian, his woes summed up on Saturday after he was prevented from opening his goalscoring account by marginal offside calls.
5. Jozy Altidore
Although still finding his second wind in the English game, Altidore’s return on the £6m fee forked out by Paolo Di Canio is non-existant. Although he’s impressed with his hold up play and work off the ball, goals are the American’s currency and right now he’s painfully out of pocket.
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