The Stock Check – Wednesday

After tepid returns from Tuesdays’ action, tonight saw the cast of heavy-hitters deliver at Leighton Baines, Juan Mata, Theo Walcott, Luis Suarez, Wayne Rooney and, of course, Jordan Henderson, all hauled in the points to round the Gameweek off with a bang. Here’s the Stock Check from Wednesday’s events…

On the Up

Wayne Rooney
His first league start since Gameweek 18 found Rooney blossom to fetch a fifth double figure haul of the season with a brace against the Saints. Incredibly, Rooney has now scored seven goals in his last five league starts for United – an output that more than keeps pace with Robin Van Persie. The old debate is opened up once again.

Leighton Baines
It was coming. Baines has been simmering all season, threatening a bumper return with superb creativity and set-piece threat thrown in. This four-match run always looked favourable for Baines and, after harvesting back-to-back clean sheets, the former Wigan man cleaned up against the Baggies with a brilliantly taken opener, followed by a spot-kick conversion.

Juan Mata
The Spaniard’s consistent run of scoring continued with a double point haul at the Madjeski – Mata has now returned a goal or assist in eight of the last ten league games. Despite David Silva’s form and Gareth Bale’s goal tonight, the case for Mata as your heavy-hitter midfielder looks cast-iron. Demba Ba’s continued rotation up front only bolsters his stock, with Mata clearly the most potent and secure Chelsea attacking option on offer right now.

Luis Suarez
Deployed out on the left-flank, the Uruguayan nonetheless wandered in-field to add menace to the Liverpool attack and struck the opening goal with just two minutes on the clock – his 17th strike of the season. Strangely, however, Suarez owners will have mixed feelings from tonight’s display. While he was always involved, clearly he has conceded the central role to Daniel Sturridge who looks destined to represent strong value from this point on.

Jordan Henderson
Could the much-maligned former Sunderland man emerge as an unlikely Fantasy prospect? Henderson followed up a double figure haul against Norwich with another one at the Emirates, assisting the Suarez goal before scoring a second-half solo effort. Having started four of the last five in the league, Henderson, at just 5.3, is already looking a likely punt for Liverpool’s forthcoming double Gameweek and is a viable alternative to Raheem Sterling.

Theo Walcott
The Gunners man is another Fantasy midfielder showing incredible consistency – a superb strike to level matters at the Emirates took him to 11 for the season and means that he’s scored in three consecutive matches. Indeed, he’s only failed to return in one of his last eight league matches. Like Mata, he’s picking himself in our midfield right now.

Olivier Giroud
Another goal, another assist – the Frenchman has unquestionably settled at the Emirates and his form is beginning to turn heads. Why Lukas Podolski turned it on for his owners in the double Gamweek, Giroud is now looking the Gunners weapon of choice up front and his blossoming understanding with Theo Walcott is looking hugely profitable.

Dimitar Berbatov
An eighth goal of the season kept the Bulgarian ticking, taking him to three goals in the last six – perhaps enough to appease his faithful Fantasy owners. Berbatov has been a victim of Fulham’s woeful recent form and, if Martin Jol’s side can take confidence from tonight’s win, Berbatov could start to rebuild his reputation as a strong mid-price option up top. However, subbed on 75 minutes – there is talk of an injury sustained in tonight’s encounter.

Kevin Nolan
A first goal in eleven league starts for Nolan is unlikely to start any form of bandwagon rolling but, with Andy Carroll set to return to the starting lineup, Nolan could yet be a factor in our Fantasy seasons having looked so strong in the opening matches.

Gareth Bale
The Welshman delivered at last, after going six starts with just one set of returns, albeit the Villa Park hat-trick, Bale rewarded the faith of his owners with the equaliser at Carrow Road. With Mata and Walcott remaining so strong and with David Silva showing great promise in recent matches, Bale consistency has tested the patience and he arguably still trails that trio in the heavy-hitter midfield rankings as it stands.

Adam Le Fondre
Incredibly, the impish striker came of the bench to deliver a brace for the second consecutive match and ruin Rafa’s evening. At 4.7 , Le Fondre would make a superb budget option if only he could offer security of starts – arguably, however, with ten goals this term, regular starts aren’t required to warrant investment.

Going Down

Demba Ba
Having sat out the FA Cup tie on Sunday, the Senegal striker look primed for a start at Reading but was left on the bench as Rafa Benitez kept faith with Fernando Torres as his striker. Ba will surely earn a start at his former club Newcastle at the weekend: that might be too late for his Fantasy owners who will be fidgeting at the prospect of the continued doubt each time a Chelsea teamsheet is due.

Rafael
Having missed three league outings in December through injury, the Brazilian was handed a rest for the visit of Southampton having started the last four matches in all competitions. With Chris Smalling and Phil Jones an option, we could anticipate rotation at right-back and with Champions League football beckoning next month, this may not be the last time that Rafael’s Fantasy owners are left frustrated.

Marouane Fellaini
Back in an attacking role having been dropped deeper at Bolton at the weekend, the Belgian still failed to get in on the act at Goodison. Fellaini has now returned just a single assist in his last six league matches. A home clash with the obliging Villa defence up next, may just lend him a stay of execution for those pondering options.

Kieran Gibbs
The young left-back’s propensity to suffer injury reared its head again as Gibbs was forced off with a hamstring problem on 36 minutes. With the Gunners conceding tonight, they are without a clean sheet in the last six league outings – Gibbs’ owners will perhaps use this latest potential setback to invest elsewhere.

Raheem Sterling
Left on the bench again, the young winger has seemingly lost his start to Stewart Downing and, with Luis Suarez now occupying the left-flank role, he appears to be locked in a one-on-one battle for a starting berth on the right. Sterling has suffered heavy transfers out for the last seven Gameweeks and that trend could continue, even with the double Gameweek beckoning. His chances of playing both those matches look slim.

Robin Van Persie
The Dutchman had been so consistent and yet chose a night where Rooney delivered to return a rare blank – his first since Gameweek 13. With thousands handing him the armband, there will be mass disappointment but surely faith will be kept in a player who has been so reliable, so often.