This is why Sheffield United's Billy Sharp is the second best English striker this century

Just 11 goals. That's all Billy Sharp needs to be crowned the deadliest English striker since the year 2000 after his goal against Preston at the weekend moved him level with Wayne Rooney in the scoring charts.

By The Newsroom

Published 24th Sep 2018, 11:31 BST

Updated 24th Sep 2018, 11:37 BST

Sharp's opener on Saturday took him to 208 English league goals and joint second in the scoring charts just behind his former Southampton team mate Rickie Lambert, who has 219.

With Lambert now retired and Rooney playing in the MLS with DC United in Washington, Sharp could become the highest-scoring Englishman in the football league this century by the end of the season.

The majority of Sharp's goals have come in a Blades shirt '“Â the 32-year-old has netted 68 times in his current spell at Bramall Lane.

Earlier in his career he bagged 53 at Scunthorpe and 44 during three spells withÂ Doncaster Rovers.

He also found the back of the netÂ during his time at Rushden and Diamonds, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Reading and Leeds United.