A glance at the list of Premier League clubs’ all-time leading scorers and those active strikers with the highest tally reveals a wide gap between the two.
Some legendary strikers in the English game will be difficult to dislodge from their pedestal as the ones still playing are far behind.
Indeed, in some cases the task seems almost impossible.
Hereunder is a list of current leading marksmen at the start of the season in all clubs in the Premiership. Also listed are the Premier League clubs’ all-time top scorers.
Arsenal
Theo Walcott (ex-Southampton) - 26
Thierry Henry (1999-2007) - 174
Aston Villa
Gabriel Agbonlahor (club youth) - 53
Harry Hampton (1904-1915) - 215
Chelsea
Frank Lampard (ex-West Ham) - 126
Bobby Tambling (1958-1970) - 164
Everton
Leon Osman (club youth) - 34
William Ralph ‘Dixie’ Dean (1925-1937) - 349
Fulham
Simon Davies (ex-Everton) - 13
Gordon Davies (1978-1984, 1986-1991) - 159
Liverpool
Steven Gerrard (club youth) - 89
Roger Hunt (1959-1969) - 245
Manchester City
Carlos Tevez (ex-Man. United) - 47
Tommy Johnson (1919-1930) - 158
Manchester United
Wayne Rooney (ex-Everton) - 129
Bobby Charlton (1956-1973) - 199
Newcastle United
Shola Ameobi (club youth) - 50
Jackie Milburn (1946-1957) - 177
Norwich City
Grant Holt (ex-Shrewsbury) - 15
Johnny Gavin (1945-54, 1955-58) - 122
Queens Park Rangers
Jamie Mackie (ex-Plymouth) - 7
George Goddard (1926-34) - 172
Reading
Ronnie Blackman (1947-54) - 158
Southampton
Mike Channon (1966-1977, 1979-1982) - 185
Stoke City
Matt Etherington (ex-West Ham); Jon Walters (ex-Ipswich) - 13
Freddie Steele (1934-49) - 142
Sunderland
Stephane Sessegnon (ex-PSG) - 10
Charlie Buchan (1911-1925) - 209
Swansea City
Nathan Dyer (ex-Southampton) - 5
Ivor Allchurch (1949-58, 1965-68) - 166
Tottenham Hotspur
Jermaine Defoe (ex-Portsmouth) - 79
Jimmy Greaves (1961-1970) - 220
West Bromwich
Peter Odemwingie (ex-Lokomotiv Moscow) - 25
Tony Brown (1963-1979) - 218
West Ham United
Vic Watson (1920-1935) - 298
Wigan Athletic
Franco di Santo (ex-Chelsea) - 8
Andy Liddell (1998-2004) - 70