Is the target man back in fashion? Why they still have a role to play

With Andy Carroll and Peter Crouch in the goals, is the target man back in fashion? There are reasons to believe in the big man, writes Adam Bate.

"The thing about me is I've always been in and out of fashion," said Peter Crouch in an interview with the Telegraph earlier this season. "Mainly out, actually." But just a couple of months on and the target men of the Premier League are reminding us all exactly what they can do.

In fact, Crouch is getting loads of love after joining the Premier League's 100 club. Having gone goalless last season, the 6ft7in target man has actually scored more goals in the competition since New Year's Eve - four in his last six games - than he had in the previous two years.