Jermain Defoe once named 130-goal Championship star as the best EFL striker of all time, it is clear why

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Former Sunderland and Spurs star Jermain Defoe believes only one man can be named as the king of EFL strikers of all time.

The EFL has boasted many mercurial talents over the years, particularly in the striker department.

Often, we have seen forwards blossom into fine talents in the EFL and then go on to shine in the Premier League before often representing their nation, with Ivan Toney being a more recent addition to this exclusive club.

But when someone asks about the best EFL forward of all time, your mind doesn’t immediately spring to those who have gone on to shine on the grand stage, but rather the strikers who have consistently gone above and beyond in England’s second, third, or fourth tier. Ultimately, only one player can fit that description best.

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Jermain Defoe names former Sheffield United star Billy Sharp as the greatest EFL striker

When debating the best EFL forward of all time, your mind has to surely turn towards the top scorer of all time – Billy Sharp.

That was who Jermain Defoe’s mind turned to first when asked, via Lo72Insta.

The Sheffield United legend finds himself at the top of the tree of EFL forwards with 130 goals, ahead of the likes of Jordan Rhodes, David Nugent and Chris Martin.

However, what Sharp has above all other names in the conversation is the consistency he has shown at several clubs – Rhodes and Martin on the other hand have seen their careers tail off as they hit the business end.

Arguably, other than a short stint at Hull City recently, everywhere Sharp has gone, goals have followed, whether it is in the Championship or League Two, a vital part as to why he is arguably the best forward ever in the EFL.

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Billy Sharp is still showing immense quality at 39

Another reason why Sharp is deservedly held in such good stead is his longevity, with the forward notching promotion to League One with Doncaster Rovers.

At the age of 39, Sharp bagged nine goals, playing predominantly from off-the-bench for Grant McCann’s side.

Even still, Sharp is popping up with the crucial goals, notably scoring the goal that confirmed promotion against Bradford at the Eco Power Stadium. McCann noted, when speaking to The Standard, that ‘[there is nobody] else who would have stayed so calm in that situation and just put their shot into the side-netting like he did’, a sign that the forward is far from losing it.