David Prutton has identified Leeds United’s Joel Piroe and Norwich City duo Josh Sargent and Borja Sainz as the standout forwards in the Championship this season.
Sainz currently leads the Championship scoring charts with 17 goals for Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side, while Piroe sits second with 15 goals in 38 appearances for Daniel Farke’s Leeds, who are also leading the league table. Sargent has netted 12 times in 24 games, but injuries have limited his impact on Norwich’s push for a play-off spot.
Prutton’s picks for top Championship forwards
Prutton praised Piroe for his consistent performances this season as Leeds push for automatic promotion to the Premier League. He also highlighted Sargent’s importance to Norwich, noting how the team’s form dipped during his absence due to injury. Although Sainz primarily operates as a wide player, Prutton believes his goal-scoring prowess this season merits his inclusion in the conversation.
“Joel Piroe deserves credit because he’s quietly and effectively gone about his business this season,” Prutton told Football League World. “With the pace and talent around him at Leeds, he’s really thrived.”
Prutton also expressed admiration for Sargent, emphasizing his work rate and the significant gap he leaves in Norwich’s attack when unavailable. He added that while Sainz is more of a winger, his goal tally means he can’t be overlooked in discussions about the league’s best forwards.
“Sargent is a huge miss when he’s not in the side, which has been evident at times for Norwich this season,” Prutton said. “As for Sainz, whether you label him a striker or a winger, his goal-scoring record speaks for itself.”
Piroe and Sargent shine among a competitive field
While Sainz’s contributions have been impressive from a wider position, Piroe and Sargent have stood out as the most consistent central attacking options in the Championship this year.
Several other strikers have had solid seasons, including Josh Maja, Wilson Isidor, Callum Robinson, Anis Mehmeti, and Josh Windass. However, injuries and inconsistency have prevented them from reaching the same levels as Piroe and Sargent.
