After Robin van Persie who will be the next member of the '100 club'?

When Robin Van Persie rattled in his third goal against Southampton to complete a brilliant solo hat-trick performance he gained membership to a very exclusive Premier League club; the ‘100 club’.

The first member of the club was Alan Shearer, as he scored his 100^th goal during the 1995-96 season on his way to an incredible 260 Premier League goals. Among the list are former players such as Andy Cole (189), Robbie Fowler (163) or Teddy Sheringham (147); players now plying their trade in far flung corners of the world such as Thierry Henry (176), Robbie Keane (126), Nicolas Anelka and Dider Drogba (123 and 100). Whilst some have gone on to become regular pundits like Matt Le Tissier (101), Dion Dublin (111) and Ian Wright (113).

Of course amongst the 23 names there are still players hoping to add to their tally like Van Persie and fellow current centurion Darren Bent.

Leading the way is Frank Lampard on 152 just ahead of Michael Owen who will aim to reach 150 during his time at Stoke with at least one goal. Wayne Rooney (144), Jermain Defoe (113), Ryan Giggs (107) and Paul Scholes (106) are all also there.

The real points of interest are those who have seemingly just missed out such as Yakubu now playing in China on 95 and Ruud Van Nistlerooy who was moved on before he could score the 5 necessary to reach the elusive number.

So who are the players in contention to join it next, we take a look at five potential contenders.

Steven Gerrard – 89 goals

Surely he has 11 goals in him before the season is up, let alone his career. No doubt he will join Frank Lampard, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes as fellow midfielders on the list one day; whether he gets there before anybody else is the main question but he is the man closest at the moment and would be your safe bet.

Louis Saha – 85 goals

The Sunderland striker has always been a potent finisher and is currently stranded adrift on 85 goals; sandwiched between good company in Cristiano Ronaldo and Dennis Bergkamp. If he can rediscover that goalscoring touch this season he might grab the 15 necessary as he hasn’t got many seasons left in his injury prone legs.

Emmanuel Adebayor - 78 goals

22 goals will do it for the Togolese forward currently in joint 39^th on the all-time list with Tony Cottee. He could do that in one season for sure and should become a member one day.

Carlos Tevez - 76 goals

I personally think this will be the next man to join the club. Just below Adebayor on 76 goals a fine season this year at City would see him complete the feat.

Fernando Torres – 74 goals

A couple of years ago and you would have predicted him being there already but a rough start to Stamford Bridge life has prevented him from doing so. Seemingly finding his shooting boots again Fernando needs a further 26 goals this season to join the club. That would be 28 for the season making him a contender for the golden boot. Can he do it? Why not?

Other contenders include Dimitar Berbatov (75) and Peter Crouch (72) but…

…who do you think will join the ‘100 club’ next?

image: © Alfonso Jimenez

Mathew Nash

@hitcmathewnashGoogle+more stories from Mathew Nash

I’m Mathew Nash a 23 year old graduate in Sports Studies and I have an insatiable love for sport. With a particularly keen interest for the madcap world of football I have always been known amongst friends as a beacon for bizarre sporting trivia and knowledge. My other passion is for writing and hopefully combining the two will create a superb and entertaining marriage that will create, divide and share opinion.