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In 2019/20, David McGoldrick, playing for Sheffield United in the Premier League, was struggling to find the back of the net, performing well below his xG. The forward then finished as the Blades’ leading scorer the following season. However, Sheffield United ended up being relegated and McGoldrick once again struggled to score goals and it wasn’t that he was unlucky this time.

The veteran made a free move to Derby County in League One after four full seasons at Bramall Lane and has been one of the best players in League One so far. The visualization below shows where McGoldrick ranks for some of the key metrics compared to the other centre-forwards in the third tier of England football.

Only Peterborough’s Jonson Clarke-Harris (21 goals) has scored more goals than David McGoldrick (16) in League One this season. However, Clarke-Harris has played at least 1,000 more minutes than the Derby striker. This continues to show McGoldrick’s incredible consistency in finding the back of the net. McGoldrick is set to finish with the best goal tally of his career this season, an astounding achievement at 35 years of age.

He is one of the most complete center forwards in the league, as seen in the image above. Sometimes playing as an attacking midfielder, McGoldrick also has the ability to find his teammates comfortable and create high-quality chances. After a slow start to the season, having scored just 1 goal in his first 8 appearances, McGoldrick has been mostly a regular name on the scoresheet since Paul Warne was appointed manager, especially in recent weeks, with the 35-year-old years. scoring in four of his last five appearances at the time of writing.

Ranking in the top 10% for a number of key attacking metrics, David McGoldrick has played a key role in Derby’s push for promotion. Promotion to the Championship just a year after being relegated is not a certainty, but if Derby are promoted it would come as no surprise if McGoldrick plays for them again next season.