Premier League first goalscorer betting strategy and players to follow

It's always the ones you least expect.

Nathan Redmond had gone 22 matches without a goal and had scored just once in his last 56 appearances before breaking the deadlock away to Huddersfield on December 22 in Ralph Hasenhuttl's third game as Southampton's manager after replacing Mark Hughes.

Redmond went on to notch another eight times last season (five in the Premier League) as Hasenhuttl unlocked the potential in the one-time England Under-21 starlet.

Many had given up on the former Norwich flyer but Redmond found his wings with the Austrian and truly wrecked it under Ralph to become a first goalscorer punters' pal.

Redmond was first past the post on five of the six occasions that he scored and became thirsty - or should that be firsty - for goals with his career reborn.

Liverpool's Sadio Mane may be better value than Mo Salah

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane each opened the scoring on nine occasions, leading the way as the joint-most frequent first goalscorers in the Premier League.

It could be argued Mane is the one to focus on in the first scorer market as he always goes off a bigger price than Salah, particularly when James Milner is on the pitch.

The Egyptian becomes a bigger threat, as he showed in the Champions League final win over Tottenham, with spot-kicks in his favour.

Brighton's veteran Glenn Murray had a golden touch with 62 per cent of his goals landing for first-scorer backers, while Pedro and Richarlison of Chelsea and Everton respectively are two to keep an eye on from out wide.

Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero, a pair of popular hotshots who always go off at short prices, had respectable returns without suggesting they should be followed over a cliff.

Arguably the biggest disappointment in the first-goalscorer stakes last season was Jamie Vardy, who landed the opening blow just four times despite an overall healthy return of 18 Premier League goals.

Given Vardy often plays as the lone striker and takes penalties, his poor record may be something to bear in mind for the forthcoming campaign.

• Premier League top-scorer tips

Vardy loves space in behind and could just be the type of striker to make more of a difference later in games when play becomes stretched rather than the cagey early exchanges.

Much was made of the former England international's broken relationship with previous Leicester manager Claude Puel, but Vardy also failed to land the first blow under Brendan Rodgers.

Vardy has, quite strangely, not opened the scoring since New Year's Day.

It's always the ones you least expect.

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