If you include pre-season friendlies as part of the tally, West Ham United centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos has now scored four goals in his last nine club appearances.
After the Hammers fell behind to an early penalty during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Southend, Mavropanos rose to convert a Jarrod Bowen corner on the stroke of half-time.
Four months ago, some 37 miles east, Mavropanos ended West Ham’s 86-match wait for a Premier League goal from a central defender; the Greek giant capping one of the finest individual performances of the campaign as Man City were frustrated at the London Stadium.
What caught your eye as West Ham and Southend drew 1-1?
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West Ham United’s suddenly goal-hungry number 15 would then smash in the most unexpected of braces in a 4-0 obliteration of Wolves.
In doing so, he became the first Hammers defender to score a brace since James Collins in 2013.
James Collins backs Dinos Mavropanos to score ten for West Ham United in 2026/27
Funnily enough, Collins was present at Roots Hall to see Konstantinos Mavropanos perform his new-found party trick once again on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
“He just looks so hungry, and he has that desire to head the football in both boxes,” Collins said from the commentary gantry during West Ham’s in-house coverage.
If you were to extrapolate Mavropanos’ run of four goals in nine appearances across an entire, 46-game Championship campaign, you’d break the 20-goal barrier.
Needless to say, his current rate is a pretty unsustainable one.
Yet, after Bowen committed his future to West Ham on Friday and Mavropanos scored again on Saturday, Collins can envisage the former helping the latter to achieve what no defender has ever done in the Championship before.
“When you have the quality of delivery that you’ve got with Jarrod Bowen,” the Welshman says, “I really think he could get double figures in the Championship next season.”
Since the First Division was rebranded as the Championship back in 2004, no centre-back has ever racked up ten or more goals in a single second-tier season.
Some have come close. Bristol City’s former 6ft 6ins colossus Aden Flint thumped in eight during 2017/18, a couple of years after hitting 14 in League One. Daniel Ayala once scored seven for Middlesbrough, Michal Helik got nine for Huddersfield, and Millwall skipper Jake Cooper now has 30 Championship goals under his belt at The Den.
Collins, though, feels that new ground can be broken next term.
“It’s similar to Andy Carroll,” Collins added, comparing Mavropanos with West Ham’s old, ponytailed powerhouse. “When the ball was right and he had the run on you, it was absolutely impossible to defend.
“And I think it’s the same with Mavro.”
The captain STAYS! How big of a coup is this for West Ham? 🥳
Gerard Prenderville delighted as Mavropanos and co avoid injuries
Mavropanos was one of eleven players who exited the fray midway through the second-half, Nuno opting to change his entire team.
“We played 45 minutes [for each player] behind closed doors on Tuesday against Colchester, then played today with a crowd, 10,000 I think there was. So, as I said, it was a really good workout,” smiles first-team coach Gerard Prenderville.
“It’s about getting through it with no injuries. The lads played 60 [minutes] today and the other boys came on and played 30, so that’s exactly what it’s about.
“The boys have been good. They’ve attacked every session, worked really hard on and off the pitch, lots of gym work.
“So, it’s been a really, really good two weeks and then to go and get some of them to get over 100 minutes in their legs now has been really positive.”
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