All 24 EFL League One clubs' best winger ranked from best to worst | OneFootball

Football League World ranks all of the third tier’s top wide men

The regular League One season is almost drawing to a close, with play-offs looming for those involved.

In truth, from the off, very few expected anyone other than Birmingham City to run away with the title after their shock relegation last term, and those predictions were realised, with the Blues far and away the strongest squad in the division.

But that doesn’t necessarily they have the best player in every single position, including out on the wing.

Here, Football League World pits each team’s top wideman against the rest of their peers in the third tier…

1 Kwame Poku (Peterborough United)

When discussing the best players overall in League One this season, it’s difficult not to mention Kwame Poku’s name, so when narrowed down to just wingers, he was always going to rank highly.

Given the 23-year-old has only managed 26 League One appearances this term, due to a lengthy lay-off with a hamstring injury, his record of 12 goals and eight assists is a remarkable haul.

As exclusively revealed by Football League World recently, it’s little wonder Birmingham are readying a £30,000-per-week contract for the wideman.

2 Jovon Makama (Lincoln City)

Jovon Makama is billed more as central striker than a winger, but he has made crucial contributions from the right flank for Lincoln City this term.

The most notable of those occasions is, of course, his hat-trick against Bristol Rovers, contributing a further assist to make himself the key man in the Imps' 5-0 win.

Considering he is only 21 years old, he is undoubtedly one of the third tier’s brightest sparks.

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It hasn’t been the best of seasons for Northampton Town, who look likely to register a bottom-half finish for 2024/25.

That, if anything, makes Cameron McGeehan’s raw numbers all the more impressive.

He has been something of a utility man this season, but has spent most of his time on the right wing or providing width as one half of a dual-10s setup.

The need to adapt hasn’t dampened his contributions though, netting 10 goals and providing a further five assists for the Cobblers.

4 Mallik Wilks (Rotherham United)

The past couple of seasons with Sheffield Wednesday have been a bit of a washout for Mallik Wilks, netting just one goal across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

A refresh was needed to find his earlier Hull City form, and he certainly found it on loan at Rotherham United, hitting double figures for goal contributions for the first time since 2020/21.

Club-record signing Jonson Clarke-Harris has not quite lived up to the hype so, thankfully, Wilks has been there to pick up some of the slack.

5 Jamie Reid (Stevenage)

Stevenage’s Jamie Reid is another who has mixed his time between leading the line and providing width, but has spent a good portion of the season out of the left side.

Eight goals and four assists is a strong return as part of a side who haven’t exactly set the league alight this campaign.

Without the attacking talents of Reid and Dan Kemp this term, Boro fans may shudder to think where they might have ended up.

6 Josh Koroma (Huddersfield Town)

Another who has managed to hit double figures for goals and assists is Josh Koroma of Huddersfield Town.

His goals per 90 rating of 0.36 is the highest of anyone in the Terriers’ squad, giving him a strong argument for being not only the club’s best wideman – despite having split his time between this and up top – but also the club’s most lethal attacker.

Given it has been a season to forget for Huddersfield, Koroma’s performances have provided some light relief.

7 Rob Apter (Blackpool)

Despite feeling like a name that has set tongues wagging for some time now, Rob Apter is still only 22 years old and, based on this season’s evidence, is still improving.

He has a blinding season with Tranmere Rovers last term and has kicked on again for parent side Blackpool in the division above.

With eight goals and three assists to his name for a side that have been through a management change and rough patches at times this season, he will undoubtedly be catching the eye of recruitment departments.

8 Ryan Barnett (Wrexham)

Wrexham, under Phil Parkinson, don’t really deploy wingers in the traditional sense, charging wing-backs like Ryan Barnett and James McClean with providing the width.

In truth, either of the two would have been worthy additions to this list, but Barnett just takes it thanks to his mind-blowing stats.

Considering he also has considerable defensive duties to attended to, the fact he is joint-first in the league’s assist charts, and second in the division for big chances created is some feat.

Tyreece Campbell looks capable of being the next to fly the flag for Charlton Athletic’s academy system.

Still on 21 years old, he is improving year-on-year, this time registering seven goals for the Addicks as one of their key men, splitting his time between the wing and up front.

10 Keshi Anderson (Birmingham City)

In a team as star-studded as Birmingham’s, it can be difficult to stand out, but Keshi Anderson’s contribution to this season’s success warrants more than a mention.

Registering 10 goal involvements, from both wings, despite only starting 24 games has undoubtedly played its role the Blues’ success, and being second in the league for expected assists per 90 suggests his headline stats should be even better.

Anderson is also joint-top for penalties awarded this term, showing just how much of a handful he can be when he’s on the pitch.