Who will win the Golden Boot?

The Premier League has got off to a flying start this season with surprises a plenty at the start of the season. Naturally this opens up some very interesting betting markets as the odds change by the week for the Premiership's runners and riders.

An interesting category this season has to be that of The Golden Boot. Traditionally poachers like Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry have been shoe-ins for this award, but this season the market is a very open one, and after just 3 games there are some unexpected names towards the top of the table.

Who would have guessed for instance, that the man in poll position is journeyman attacking midfielder Antoine Sibierski? The former Man City and Newcastle chrome dome has plundered 3 goals for unfancied Wigan Athletic. Not many would back Sibierski to go this distance over 38 games, but if you were to back the Latics forward, you would find scintillating odds of 80/1 over at VCbet.com.

By contrast, many pundits were predicting a big year for Wayne Rooney. The Manchester United marksman has had a nightmare start to the campaign and lasted only 45 minutes against Reading before limping off with an injury that will keep him out of the game for 2 months. As a result the odds on Rooney landing the Golden Boot have been stretched to 25/1 at VCbet. Meanwhile, Rooney's new team mate, Carlos Tevez (above left) has failed to open his account this season despite some robust performances and good chances. The little Argentine, nicknamed 'Apache', could prove good value at 14/1 - when he finds his shooting boots expect those odds to plummet.

Two goal getters you can always rely on are the Chelsea double act of Drogba and Lampard. Both have opened their accounts already with the England man netting twice in the league and the Ivorian putting one away already. Drogba is of course the defending champion of the Golden Boot and odds of 9/2 justifiably see him installed as the favourite. Bare in mind though he will not see Premier League action during next year's African Nations Cup tournament which could see the Drog miss a months worth of matches. Lampard has never won the Golden Boot before, but must be a good shout for an each way bet and the odds of 14/1 are a fair reflection of his potency in front of goal.

There are many other contenders in this market as well. Ronaldo came within a whisker of winning the accolade last season and 16/1 looks excellent value for the double player of the year. Veteran campaigner Nicolas Anelka has already notched two this season and is a 20/1 shot - along with Newcastle pair Michael Owen and Oba Martins. Spurs schemers Berbatov and Bent are 16/1 as is Blackburn hot shot Benny McCarthy.

Foreign imports Robin Van Persie and Ferndando Torres have had promising starts to the campaign with 2 goals and one goal respectively. VCbet rate the Dutch Gunner as 5/1 second favourite for the award while Liverpool's talisman is ranked 14/1.

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