Scout Picks – Gameweek 34

Only two teams supply more than a single player for this week’s Scout Picks XI. United’s home clash with Villa on Monday evening will be targeted by many as a potent source of points, and Newcastle’s ever-growing injury list has persuaded us to draft in a couple of West Brom options ahead of tomorrow morning’s deadline. Here’s who we’ve opted for:

The consistency of starts afforded by David De Gea earns the United keeper his place between the sticks for Monday’s home game with Villa. While there’s more potential upside to the likes of Rafael, Sir Alex Ferguson’s recent selection policy has persuaded us to opt for the safety of the Spaniard instead – with seven clean sheets in his last nine, De Gea has racked up the points in recent matches.

A home game with Stoke brings Chris Samba into this week’s Scout Picks. Harry Redknapp’s side will never get a better chance to register a clean sheet this weekend – the Potters have scored twice in their last eight on the road and with Samba continuing to offer attacking threat in the opposition box, the potential for points seems enticing in what is a must-win match for the home side.

Michael Turner’s goal threat has come to the fore in recent weeks. The Norwich centre-half has scored in each of the last two matches and entertains a Reading with a single goal in four since the dismissal of Brian McDermott. At 4.2 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), he looks strong value with a shout of returns at both ends of the pitch.

We’ve opted for West Brom’s Gareth McAuley ahead of a home clash with injury-hit Newcastle tomorrow. Alan Pardew’s side have scored just once on their last three road trips and are struggling for confidence after last weekend’s home hammering by Sunderland – with a goal and assist over the last seven, the Baggies centre-half could be set for a prosperous weekend.

Back in the Tottenham squad for Sunday’s clash with City, Gareth Bale is drafted back into the Scout Picks. Quite simply, we reckon if he’s available for the squad, he’ll be fit enough to start – not once this season has Andre Villas-Boas named the Welshman as a substitute, and with just one win in the last four, the north London club can ill-afford further slip-ups in their quest for a third place finish. Certainly, a clash with City is far from straightforward but, with double figures in five of his last seven, Bale’s fixture-proof potential and outstanding recent form is impossible to ignore.

After a fortnight’s rest due to Swansea’s blank Gameweek 33, Michu is back on the radar. There’s no denying the Spaniard has stuttered over the past few months but goals in each of his last two suggest he’s starting to find his form once again – with visitors Southampton conceding in three of their last four, he’s already risen in price this week as the bandwagon picks up pace again.

Having returned to the Arsenal first-team for last week’s double, Theo Walcott gets the nod as the Gunners travel to Fulham. The omens look prosperous for attacking points for the right winger – Walcott has scored or assisted in seven of his last eight away starts, while Fulham have conceded in 11 of their last 12 at the Cottage.

This morning’s Watchlist candidate Stephane Sessegnon is drafted in as Sunderland prepare for the visit of Everton. After grabbing a goal and assist in last week’s win at Newcastle, the Black Cats playmaker looks pivotal ahead of Paolo Di Canio’s first home match in charge of the Wearsiders – granted, Everton have been resilient but prior to their goalless draw at the Emirates, had registered a single clean sheet in 12 road trips. With the home side desperate for all three points, Sessegnon could be the key to unlocking the Toffees’ backline – he just edges out United’s Shinji Kagawa from our XI.

Robin Van Persie is firmly back in the mix as United prepare for the visit of Villa on Monday evening. With confidence restored after grabbing goals in each of his side’s matches in last week’s double, the Dutchman is up against a midlands outfit that have conceded in each of the last 17 Gameweeks – little wonder he’s the runaway leader in this week’s Captain Poll.

The impressive home form of Andy Carroll is too difficult to ignore. We handed him the headline act in last week’s Spot the Differential and he duly delivered with a 12 point return over West Ham’s pair of fixtures – having scored or assisted in each of his four Upton Park appearances since returning from a knee injury, he looks set to wreak havoc on Wigan tomorrow.

Admittedly, there’s a small risk in picking Romelu Lukaku but it’s one we’re willing to take ahead of a home clash with Newcastle. The Belgian was omitted from the Baggies first XI last time out as Steve Clarke opted for Shane Long as the lone frontman but with the West Brom boss keen to arrest a run of two defeats and a loss in the last three, Lukaku looks a good bet to be called upon again. Having scored or assisted in five of his last six home starts, the on loan forward has dropped to an enticing 6.2 in FPL.

Fresh from his assist against United in midweek, Guy Demel warms the bench for West Ham’s home game with Wigan. The Ivorian has also returned three clean sheets in the previous six and with the Latics scoring just twice in their previous three, Demel’s owners will be hopeful of further returns tomorrow afternoon.

A home showdown with Reading offers Robert Snodgrass the chance to pick up the Fantasy points as Norwich go in search of a win that would all but secure their top-flight. With a goal and assist over the last two, the summer signing has impressed of late and could be the key to unlocking a stubborn defence that kept Liverpool at bay last weekend.

Loic Remy is a little unlucky to be forced onto the bench for a home game with Stoke. The Frenchman has notched five times in eight starts since moving to QPR and with Harry Redknapp’s side desperate for a victory, a home clash against a Potters side with a single clean sheet in 15 affords Remy the platform to maintain his strong form.