Emil Riis scored two goals in Leicester City’s win against Wigan Athletic to continue his excellent start to life in the East Midlands.

Riis has bagged seven in 11 games in all competitions for the Foxes since his move from Bristol City in the summer, justifying Russell Martin’s claims that the Danish forward was his ‘top target’ for the number nine position.

Featured comment

markmarston

The gulf in quality was drastic, although it certainly wasn’t a good performance by any means. Played well in patches but an air of complacency. Emil Riis is the best striker in League One 🦊

Join the conversation →

Emil Riis can’t do it alone for Leicester City

As it stands, the Foxes are three points off the play-off places and have a game in hand on some sides. However, Riis is clearly unable to do it on his own.

His six goals in eight league games mean he is on course to score anywhere between 34-36 goals this season. If he gets to 36, that would match the League One record set by Jordan Rhodes in the 2011/12 campaign.

If supplemented by others in the squad, that may help. However, on this current trajectory, the Foxes would finish on 69 points, which would result in an 11th place finish.

Even if the forward has won them nine points alone from the games he has scored in, when he doesn’t get on the scoresheet, the Foxes rarely come away with three points.

A draw away at Barnsley and defeat to Luton Town are two of the most recent examples of results when the 28-year-old doesn’t bag. They were also on the receiving end of a 4-0 drubbing at home to Oxford United on his debut.

As for the rest of the league, Leicester would finish 27 points behind projected league winners Huddersfield Town, who on current metrics, would end the season on 96 points. Even a play-off place would feel like miles away, with Plymouth Argyle predicted to finish nine points clear of the Foxes.

Things can change as the season carries on but it goes without saying that would be considered a disaster for Leicester if this forecast does come true.

The lowest finish in the club’s history is top of the table in their one and only previous campaign in League One and their infrastructure and playing squad are far better than a midtable spot.