Scout Picks – Gameweek 17

As Fantasy managers quickly dispense of their Sunderland assets with double Gameweek 16 finally out the way, the Black Cats’ trip to Old Trafford brings the hosts firmly in our thoughts. Liverpool and Norwich also provide our XI with two players apiece ahead of strong looking home games, while form gets the nod over fixtures for a couple of our midfield selections:

Mark Bunn takes his place between the sticks as Norwich prepare to welcome Wigan to Carrow Road. With Chris Hughton looking to extend his side’s unbeaten league run to 10 matches, the Canaries will be buoyed by the fact that their visitors have scored just two goals in their last six on the road. Priced at just 4.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Bunn looks a real budget contender this weekend.

Glen Johnson earns a place for Liverpool’s home clash with Villa. The Reds have conceded just a single goal in their last five at Anfield, while the right-back arrives in strong attacking form – a goal, assist and five bonus points over his last two appearances are indicative of Johnson’s displays right now.

Rafael’s attacking intentions are also key to his inclusion. The Brazilian retained his starting role against City last week after being subbed off early at Reading and vindicated his manager’s decision with a pair of assists – while United have been poor defensively, the expected return of Nemanja Vidic against Sunderland tomorrow may well harvest a fourth clean sheet of the campaign.

Our final spot in a three-man defence goes to Gareth McAuley as West Brom prepare for the visit of West Ham. The Baggies could potentially have Ben Foster back in goal – they’ve managed four clean sheets in six at the Hawthorns with Foster between the sticks – and with the Hammers scoring just three times in their last four road trips, they’ll fancy their chances of keeping Sam Allardyce’s side at bay.

Two lots of FPL double figures in the past three Gameweeks highlights the current form of Robert Snodgrass. Norwich welcome Wigan to Carrow Road as they look to extend their unbeaten league run to 10 matches – with the Latics conceding at least twice in each of their last six, Snodgrass’ owners could be picking up the points once again this weekend.

With back-to-back braces in his last couple of matches, Michu’s incredible debut season shows little sign of slowing down. The Spaniard rolls up to the Lane this weekend and with Spurs keeping a mere two clean sheets so far this term, there’s simply no way we can overlook the top scoring FPL player right now.

Arsenal are afforded the chance of bouncing back from their Capital One Cup embarrassment at Bradford as they make their way to Reading on Monday evening. Santi Cazorla will be looking to benefit against a backline that has managed a single clean sheet all season – with 14 goals against at the Madejski, Brian McDermott’s side have the second worst home defence in the league. Having scored at Anfield, Old Trafford and Upton Park already, Cazorla tends to keep his best displays for the Gunners’ road trips.

There’s little doubt that Everton’s trip to Stoke is a potential stumbling block but if there’s one player who can get the better of the Potters’ physical back-four, it’s Marouane Fellaini. The towering Belgian has already racked up five lots of double figures over his 14 appearances and has the physical presence to punish Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth as the Toffees look to build on their comeback win over Spurs last Sunday. It was a tough call between Fellaini and David Silva but the latter’s lack of form (no returns in the last four) edged it in favour of the Everton man.

Runaway leader in the Captain Poll, our faith in Robin Van Persie rarely wavers. While Wayne Rooney has hogged the headlines in recent weeks, the Dutchman continues to rack up the points and has scored or assisted in all but two of his starts this term – an incredible run of consistency. With Sunderland sweating over the fitness of key defenders, Van Persie looks set to make it an afternoon to forget for the Black Cats tomorrow.

Back after a one-match suspension, Luis Suarez is welcomed to the Scout Picks as Liverpool prepare for Villa’s weekend visit. Having played a part in 13 of the Reds’ 22 goals, with 10 strikes and three assists, Suarez’s contribution will be crucial in breaking down a Villa backline that has conceded just once in their last four.

With double figure returns in two of the last four, Jermain Defoe completes out front three. Andre Villas-Boas admitted earlier today that Gareth Bale is “highly unlikely” to make the home clash against Swansea and Defoe looks a viable alternative route – he is just two points behind the Welshman in the FPL rankings and is up against a defence that has just one clean sheet on their travels since the opening day of the season.

Ryan Nelsen warms the bench as our budget defender. The QPR centre-half has averaged six points per game over Harry Redknapp’s three matches in charge and with visitors Fulham firing blanks in their two away trips since Bryan Ruiz sustained a hamstring injury, a home clean sheet could well be on the cards.

Adel Taarabt sits alongside his Loftus Road team mate. The Moroccan supplied a crucial assist in last weekend’s draw at Wigan and with the Cottagers conceding an average of two goals per game on the road, Harry Redknapp will be counting on Taarabt to make the difference and earn his side their first win of the season.

Grant Holt rounds off the Scout Pick squad ahead of a home clash with Wigan. As mentioned above, the Latics’ defence is particularly porous right now and with many of their regular backline ruled out or highly doubtful, Holt is afforded the chance to add to his 14 point haul in the Canaries’ stunning win over Swansea last time out.