When Chris Hughton brought us news of Fabricio Collicini’s return to training earlier this week, he emphasised the increase competition for places in the Newcastle defence, hinting that no one was guaranteed a start within his back four.
This comes at a time when Fantasy Managers will be looking to the Newcastle defence for potential points. As we outlined in our recent “Frisking The Fixtures“, the Magpies are about to embark on a run of four home games in the next six and, with our Members Team Stats demonstrating that Hughtons’ side are amongst the tightest defensive outfits in the league, the budget offerings become worthy transfer targets over the next month.
Collicini’s injury after 36 minutes of the defeat to Man City granted Sol Campbell his first Premier League appearance for the Magpies. He took his opportunity. Campbell looked at home alongside Mike Williamson and demonstrated his wealth of experience to snuff out City attacks on several occasions. Hughton will be sorely tempted to build a new central defensive partnership around that experience.
“Sol is just a good player, so it doesn’t surprise me he’s come in and looked good. Part of the reason why we brought him in was because of that quality and experience that he showed last weekend.”
The Williamson/Collicini pairing has not let Hughton down. Newcastle have impressed defensively and in former Pompey defender Williamson, they appear to have a found a prospect which has handed Fantasy Managers an unexpected and welcome budget option within their rearguard.
Hughton will ponder the option of starting with Campbell but, in all likelihood, he will find himself on the bench with Collicini restored. In the mid-to-long term however, there is clearly uncertainty surrounding Newcastle’s central defensive pairing; even the impressive Williamson is now under threat.
This leaves us Fantasy Managers looking to Newcastle’s full-backs for options. At just 3.9 in the Fantasy Premier League game, Danny Simpson’s return to fitness could offer the cheapest route to potential returns. Having been a favourite of Hughton’s last season, he would seem likely to oust James Perch at right-back. Judging by Hughton’s comments recently however, Simpson’s return is at least another week away.
“For Danny Simpson I would have to say the game has come a little bit too quickly for him. Although he has worked very, very hard in rehab and he is at a good level of fitness, he has been out for a long time and we have to be aware of that…I would have thought we’re maybe looking at another week or so for him.”
That leaves Jose Enrique – the classy Spanish left-back who is surely one of the first names on the teamsheet and an untouchable member of the Newcastle lineup. Enrique, currently fifth in our Watchlist rankings, will cost you more but offers security and the promise of the occasional assist, with strong involvement in Newcastle’s attacks down the left-flank. For me, he presents the best option, although the 4.5 FPL price tag involves that extra level of investment that may well make some just a little nervous.
Finally of course, we could turn to Tim Krul in goal. A benefactor of Steve Harper’s recent shoulder injury, the Dutchman should be good for starts over the next two months and offers a fine budget keeper option at just 4.0 in the FPL. Krul can be found ranked second in our Keeper Watchlist rankings.
