Spot the Differential – Gameweek 20

It’s time once again to tap an unfashionable Fantasy seam in the hope of unearthing an overlooked Gameweek gem. This time around, it’s a tale of three strikers who have become accustomed to playing supporting roles but now find themselves with the opportunity to be the leading man…

Kenwyne Jones

It’s been a rough old year for Stoke’s Kenwyne Jones. Signed with great fanfare from Sunderland in the summer of 2010 to hold up play, bully centre backs and head the ball vaguely in the direction of Jonathan Walters, he can hardly be accused of not living up to his side of the bargain. A does-exactly-what-it-says-on-the-tin striker for a does-exactly-what-it-says-on-the-tin side, his record of nine goals over 34 games in his first season at the Britannia was nigh on indistinguishable from his “player of the season” form at Sunderland.

Imagine then Kenwyne’s dismay at discovering that no quantity of giant players is enough for Tony Pulis – and with both Peter Crouch and Cameron Jerome joining the Potters on the last day of the August 2011 transfer window he could be excused for not greeting such an influx of competition as a sign of his manager’s confidence. Soon sidelined, almost abandoned, Jones had seen just 74 minutes of Premier League action in total this season until an injury to Crouch called him into the fray just before half time against Newcastle in Gameweek 14.

Contributing an assist in the victorious fightback and earning praise for his attitude from the Potters’ boss, Jones appears to have been given a second lease of life in the Stoke starting XI. Leading the line in every game since, he notched his first goal of the season against Everton in Gameweek 15 and followed it up with a goal and an assist against Liverpool on Boxing Day to further re-affirm Pulis’ new found faith.

Southampton arrive at the Britannia on Saturday with a defence that has yet to register a single clean sheet on the road this season, whilst Stoke have notched six times in their last three home encounters – and against strong opposition. Price is another tempting factor, and tipping the scales at just 5.0 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and 6.8 in the Sky Sports game, you’ll be pushed to find a regularly starting forward for less. With winter wildcard season just around the corner, and midfield assets blossoming across the board, a benchable forward may be an idea worthy of consideration in any event.

Javier Hernandez

An injury to Wayne Rooney brings the Mexican into our thoughts as United prepare to welcome West Brom to Old Trafford. With the former Everton man expected to be sidelined for at least another two games according to his manager, Hernandez certainly made a case for his continued first-team inclusion with a goal and assist in United’s 4-3 Boxing Day win over Newcastle.

With Danny Welbeck still not certain to return from the illness that sidelined him for the Magpies clash, Hernandez looks in the driving seat to start alongside Robin Van Persie as the Red Devils go in search of the seventh successive home win. He’s made just three starts in front of his own fans this term but has produced a goal and assist twice, averaging seven points over that trio of fixtures and with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side racking up the goals with regularity, a FPL price tag of just 6.9 looks particularly enticing for those in search of a short-term punt. Costing 7.8 in the Sky Sports game and with an ownership under 3% in both games, Hernandez looks a viable alternative route into United’s offensive potential and is markedly cheaper than the likes of Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia in midfield.

Carlton Cole

An injury to Andy Carroll has propelled the former Chelsea man into the lone forward role for Sam Allardyce’s side and Cole has perhaps exceeded all expectations. Over his four games in the Hammers’ first XI, he has produced two goals, an assist and six bonus points – indeed, a haul of 22 FPL points over those games would be greater if it wasn’t for a red card in the previous match with Everton, which has since been overturned. When you consider Carroll has returned a goal and assist over nine starts for the Hammers, Cole’s impact has been significant.

A trip to Reading looks an enticing opportunity for Allardyce to get his side back amongst the points after a horrendous schedule dented their prospects over the past couple of months. The Hammers then square up to Norwich and Sunderland before a double Gameweek 23 sees them play host to QPR before travelling to Arsenal and with Carroll still “some weeks” from making a comeback according to the club’s official website, Cole could pick up plenty new investors willing to take a punt.

Coming in at just 4.9 in FPL and 6.7 in the Sky Sports game, with an ownership of less than 1% in both games, Cole may well prove a decent third forward option over the upcoming period and certainly has the form to suggest he could be more than a mere squad-filler.