SPL Tip: Top Goalscorer

There’s currently some value to be had in the SPL top goalscorer market with last year’s winner Kenny Miller still signed up for Bursaspor in Turkey. The Scotland striker is subject to further transfer speculation with former club Rangers reported to be among his suitors. However, negotiations appear to have reached an impasse so we will look elsewhere.

The top contenders with the bookies are Gary Hooper (3/1), who scored 20 last season for Celtic and Nikica Jelavic (10/3) who netted 16 for Rangers.  The firms have simply taken the usual approach of picking the top striker currently available for each of Glasgow’s finest, based on last year’s SPL stats. What they have seemingly dismissed is that neither of them even overtook Miller’s half-season tally after he left the country in January! But there was a prolific goal threat in Scotland after that; his name is Kris Commons.

The former Derby man signed for Neil Lennon on January 28th after claiming 13 goals for the season up to that point in the English Championship. After scoring on his debut, Commons notched an impressive 11 goals in 14 league appearances for the Hoops. With three more strikes coming in the cups, the left winger totalled 27 goals for the season between Celtic and Derby. Having comfortably outscored Hooper and Jelavic, it is baffling but pleasing to find the 27-year-old on offer at 14/1 with Boylesports.

With such eye-catching recent statistics it should be of no concern that Commons isn’t an ‘all-out striker’. Clearly, his deeper starting position has proved to be no cause for concern up to now. At such long odds, we shouldn’t feel like our value is lost even if Kenny Miller pulls on a Rangers shirt again this season. Eleven goals in 14 league appearances is a ratio that can hold up in a side well set to win the league this campaign.