Spot the Differential – Gameweek 11

As per usual on a Saturday morning, we roll out a trio of overlooked options for you to consider. This time around, we turn our attentions to Tottenham’s in-form frontman, United’s young winger and the Baggies veteran playmaker as the deadline draws ever-closer.

Harry Kane

Having emerged from the bench to grab Tottenham’s winner at Villa last weekend, it seems only a matter of time before the youngster is handed his first league start under Mauricio Pochettino.

Kane demonstrated his goal-getting ability once again in midweek by finding the net in a 2-1 Europa League win over Asteras – taking his tally to 10 in 14 appearances across all competitions for the campaign, with eight strikes in as many matches underlining his flourishing form. Compare that to Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado, who have both mustered just two goals apiece from 11 appearances, and Pochettino’s decision to overlook Kane in the top-flight is all the more baffling.

The Spurs manager’s decision to move to a 4-4-2 at Villa Park last Sunday perhaps bodes well for the youngster’s prospects. Certainly, Adebayor and Soldado’s displays did little to suggest they were worthy of their starting berths as Kane’s industry off the bench proved crucial in turning around a one-goal deficit against the midlands outfit.

As Spurs prepare to welcome Stoke to the Lane tomorrow, Pochettino has decisions to make. His side have lost three of their last four at home following European matches, scoring two goals in the process, and with Kane in such imperious form, many believe the 21-year-old will finally be unleashed from the start against the Potters. At just 4.8 in FPL, Kane has Hull, Palace, Swansea and Burnley in the subsequent six fixtures and if he is afforded the chance to prove his worth domestically, could be a real value contender for a spot in our three-man frontlines and a great enabler to splash the cash elsewhere.

Chris Brunt

Whilst Saido Berahino has hogged the West Brom headlines in recent weeks, the veteran midfielder has been equally crucial to a run that has harvested three wins and two draws in the last six Gameweeks.

Granted, Brunt hasn’t been quite as explosive as the Baggies young striker but he’s turned in a series of consistent Fantasy performances, nonetheless. The Northern Ireland international has earned an assist in four of his last six matches – equally his tally for the entirety of 2013/14 –and has also collected five bonus points over that period.

At home, in particular, Brunt has excelled, delivering an assist in each of his last three at the Hawthorns and with four of the next six league fixtures in front of his own fans (NEW, ARS, WHM, AVL) in addition to a trip to Hull, the 5.4-priced midfielder – owned by under 1% of Fantasy managers – could be a real under the radar option to consider.

Adnan Januzaj

After being utilised off the bench in five of the first seven Gameweeks, the young winger seems to have convinced Louis van Gaal he’s worthy of a starting role for United.

Whilst the likes of Juan Mata and Ander Herrera have slipped down the pecking order, Januzaj has now started the last three league matches for the Red Devils. Benefitting from a change of formation to 4-2-3-1, he played 90 minutes against both West Brom and Chelsea before being sacrificed just before the break last weekend due to Chris Smalling’s dismissal in the Manchester derby.

Given that he’s yet to pick up any attacking returns, Fantasy managers have been understandably wary of investing in the young Belgian, though. Priced at 6.1, he sits in just 1% of FPL sides but with three very appealing home matches in the next four (CPL, HUL, STK), Fantasy managers unable to stretch to Angel di Maria’s hefty 10.1 price tag may yet be prepared to roll the dice on his fellow wide man instead.