The Weekend Scout Picks

We’ve spent the week bemoaning the absence of Villa and in particular United players from the fixture list. Not surprisingly, the lack of Evra, Valencia, Rooney, Dunne and Milner has had an impact on this week’s talent pool. Regardless, we all have to dangle our rods.

Read on to find out about the big fish and tiddlers that I’ve pulled out for you…

The keeper situation changed dramatically with Petr Cech’s injury in midweek. That allowed Henrique Hilario to emerge as a potential short-term bargain as a source of Chelsea defensive points. With Cech due to be back in contention within a month, Hilario has limited shelf life but he looks a good option this week, even against Mancini’s City. They arrive at Stamford Bridge with an attack muted by the suspension Adebayor and with Tevez back in the side after missing the last couple of matches on compassionate leave. His fitness and state of mind are in question. Chelsea could easily come out of this one with a clean sheet, even without Cech.

The defence in front of the Chelsea keeper boasts some bargain purchases. Birmingham have suffered a bad run of results as their fixtures stiffened, but they are back at St Andrews this weekend and up a against a Wigan side who are notoriously travel sick. Birmingham have been without a clean sheet in six matches but I can see that run ending this weekend. Roger Johnson, with his Fantasy Premier League bonus point potential is my pick but Ridgewell and Dann are of course viable options.

I’ve chosen to take a risk on Burnley’s Graham Alexander. He has not been confirmed as fit after a month long absence but has a good chance of making the game and should find himself straight back in Brian Laws’ midfield against lowly Portsmouth. A home clean sheet is on the cards here, plus of course Alexander brings his threat from penalties. Burnley also have a double fixture in gameweek 29, making their players all the more attractive for this weekend. Daniel Fox and Andre Bikey are your alternatives if you consider Alexander a risk.

The Liverpool defence has been shaken by the injury to Martin Skrtel today but they still boast very strong form going into their attractive home fixture with Blackburn. Daniel Agger looks assured of starts in Skrtel’s absence and gets the nod for me. Insua is your cheaper option, although he is always at risk from rotation with Aurelio available. Insua should be fine for Sunday’s game but I prefer the long-term security that Agger gives me.

The last spot in my defence proved a difficult choice. There’s no obvious clean sheet candidate remaining, which leaves me tentatively backing Bolton to keep a third consecutive Reebok cleanie in the league at home to Wolves. The absence of the influential Gary Cahill is a concern but I’ve decided on Sam Ricketts as decent one week only option.

The midfield includes both Steven Gerrard and Cesc Fabregas. Both expensive big hitting players who looks strong options with Blackburn and Stoke in opposition respectively. Gerrard’s goal in the Europa League in midweek could well be the first of many now that Fernando Torres is close to a return. As for Fabregas, he will surely be massively influential again for the Gunners at Stoke. I see Arsenal needing at least a couple at the Britannia and Fabregas should once again be in the fantasy point mix.

Birmingham’s Lee Bowyer has gone quiet of late after an encouraging run of form in the early season. He hasn’t struck a goal in the League since December but this week’s fixture at home to Wigan hands him a good opportunity to break his recent dry spell. Good fixtures to follow also makes him a decent mid-term prospect.

The final midfield slot was a tough one. I was toying with Bolton’s Chung-Yong Lee but, having seen him dropped to the bench for the midweek Cup replay at Spurs, I’ve got doubts over his starting role again this weekend. It’s a similar story with Tottenham’s Modric and Kranjcar. Only one of the pair will start against Everton and it’s far from certain which way Harry will go having started with Modric against Bolton in the cup tie. In the end then I’ve opted to pay a return visit to Burnley’s Chris Eagles who has found his way back into the starting eleven after a couple of games on the bench. He remains a key threat for Burnley and is always good for efforts on goal, crosses and of course, FPL bonus points.

If you want further alternatives, Wigan’s Charles N’Zogbia and Fulham’s Zoltan Gera and Damien Duff were certainly in my mind and have the form to make an impact this weekend.

Up front it’s impossible to avoid Didier Drogba in a week when Rooney is absent. With injury concerns in the City defence, Drogba’s potential for points once again looks good in the Bridge encounter. His partner was a much more difficult call. Sunderland’s Darren Bent looked the obvious candidate but his form is off-putting. Fulham will also provide stubborn opposition, particularly with morale high after their fine Europa Cup result in the week.

Burnley’s Steven Fletcher and Bolton’s Kevin Davies and Ivan Klasnic were also in my mind, but in the end I’ve opted to keep faith with Nicklas Bendtner for Arsenal at Stoke. I just see the Gunners needing goals and having to attack the home defence, with Bendtner offering good potential to be amongst the points again.