Continuing a study of the various strikers who have been drafted in for Premiership duty this coming season. Who'll be a hit, and who'll be a miss? Let's take a closer look:

Fernando Torres (Liverpool) - Age 23, £20.2m, 214 appearances, 82 goals: Liverpool's biggest signing of the summer captured for a price that many have questioned. But I feel it will be recouped in performances over the coming seasons. Torres brings to Anfield a combination of youth and experience all in one exciting striking package. He has the kind of power and skill that will suit the Premiership, in much the same way as Dimitar Berbatov has thrived since arriving at Spurs. He may be a bit short of top level European experience but he more than makes up for that with top quality performances on the International stage.

Rolando Bianchi (Manchester City) - Age 24, £8.8m, 107 appearances, 23 goals: Rolando practically single handedly saved his Serie A side Reggina from relegation last season. However he was hardly prolific prior to 2006-7 but it is no mean feat to score 18 top-tier goals in Italy, moreso for a side that finished one point from Serie B. His previous poor form owes a lot to injuries, including a serious knee problem that I am sure City fans will be keen to make sure he doesn't aggravate. Could go either way, but I tip him to do well.

'He (Torres) may be a bit short of top level European experience but he more than makes up for that with top quality performances on the International stage'


Mark Viduka (Newcastle United) - Age, 31 Free, 369 appearances, 195 goals: The Aussie's mind-set may at times have been in question but his goal scoring exploits are pretty much impeccable. He has scored goals for fun wherever he has gone, and has a fair amount of skill to go with the ever increasing bulk. He managed 14 Premiership goals forMiddlesbrough in just 22 starts in the last campaign (including important strikes against Chelsea and Manchester United) and I think he can do great things for Newcastle. If Michael Owen fights his way back to full fitness then these two could become a fearsome partnership.

David Nugent (Portsmouth) - Age 22, £6m, 182 appearances, 51 goals: Newly capped Nugent didn't exactly endear himself to Preston's faithful following his long drawn out want-away tactics, but you can hardly blame him for seeking his Premiership fortune. However, is Portsmouth really going to be set alight by his arrival? I am unconvinced. England striker he may be, against Andorra no less, but I don't see him being an instant hit at Fratton Park. But he is still young and does give 100% for the cause and has pace and intelligence that may keep him one step ahead of some Premireship defences. Don't expect a dozen plus goals though.

Michael Chopra (Sunderland) - Age 23, £5m, 112 appearances, 45 goals: Roy Keane has pulled off what I consider to be one of the most promising signings of the summer with the capture of Newcastle-born Chopra. I think he has improved steadily since he started St James' Park Academy. Successive seasons of consistent,  quality performances for both Barnsley and then Cardiff have got him onto the Premiership radar and whilst he is lacking top-level experience, I feel that Sunderland is a good place for him to grow. I think he will end the term with a decent goal return.

Darren Bent (Tottenham) - Age 23, £16.5m, 190 appearances, 78 goals: Bent is not a cheap purchase but when you consider they are getting a 23-year-old who has finished third and fifth on the Premiership top scorers list (while playing for Charlton, incidentally) then it begins to sound  like something of a bargain. Had Bent done similarly well for a top six side then the figure would probably have been even higher and I don't think you can deny that as a goal-scorer he has few rivals. Expect the England international to again figure at the top of the scoring charts. That is, after all, what he's been bought for.