Scout Scribbles – Welbeck at the Double

Danny Welbeck scores twice as England sweep aside Slovenia. Roy Hodgson’s is optimistic on Phil Jagielka’s leg problem. Everton deliver some positive news on Leighton Baines’ hamstring. Mario Balotelli picks up a groin injury in training for Italy, whilst Mathieu Debuchy edges towards his Arsenal comeback.

Welbeck Bags a Brace

Handed a role up front alongside Wayne Rooney, the Arsenal striker cast aside his indifferent league form to score twice in a 3-1 win over Slovenia. Rooney’s spot-kick duties helped him get amongst the goals, whilst Raheem Sterling earned an assist for Roy Hodgson’s side.

The Scout Says: With Olivier Giroud returning to training for the Gunners, Welbeck will need to carry that form into the Gameweek 12 clash against former club United to stave off the challenge from the Frenchman. He has now scored 10 goals in 17 starts in all competitions this season – sadly for Arsenal and his Fantasy owners, only two of Welbeck’s goals have arrived in the Premier League from nine starts. Given that Arsene Wenger has recently rolled out a 4-4-2, Giroud’s physical presence certainly offers an alternative alongside the free-scoring Sanchez, and with the Gunners boss previously hailing Welbeck’s versatility, a possible shift out wide in the future would force his 16% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) owners to think twice over retaining his services. The Gameweek 12 clash with United looks vital for Welbeck’s FPL ownership.

Balotelli Out of Italy Squad

The Liverpool striker has been ruled out of international duties after picking up groin and hamstring problems during training with Italy. The Italian FA confirmed Balotelli’s omission was more a precautionary measure, suggesting the issue isn’t overly concerning ahead of the Reds’ trip to Palace next weekend.

The Scout Says: These concerns surrounding Balotelli’s fitness are more than countered by the potential return of Daniel Sturridge. The England striker has stepped up his recovery and could be set to strengthen his manager’s options for the Selhurst Park encounter in Gameweek 12. Sturridge and Balotelli have only played once together – in Liverpool’s most impressive performance of the season back in Gameweek 3 away to Spurs – before injury curtailed the former’s season. Given that Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini have both started just one league match apiece this term – even in Sturridge’s absence – it may well be that if Balotelli is out, Rodgers will continue with a lone striker system until the Italian is fit and available. Such a scenario could continue to frustrate Raheem Sterling owners, then – the youngster seems best suited to the role in “the hole” behind a front two but has had little opportunity to display his talents in a central role thus far.

Baines Concerns Lessen

Fears over a possible period of absence for the Everton left-back look to have eased after scans revealed the hamstring problem sustained during England training isn’t as bad as first reported. Indeed, the Toffees offered some encouraging news via a statement on their official website:

“He returned to Finch Farm for an assessment which has since showed that he has sustained a ‘grade one’ hamstring injury – the least significant on the scale of such injuries. Baines will continue to be monitored by Everton’s medical team and, although he remains a doubt for next Saturday, he has not yet been ruled out of the game against Sam Allardyce’s Hammers.”

The Scout Says: Positive news for Roberto Martinez and Fantasy managers alike, then, and given Baines’ injury history, we’ll be expecting a quick return to action. The left-back has only missed 12 league matches over the previous five seasons, though the addition of European matches is clearly extending him this term – Baines is one of only four outfield players to have started all four of Everton’s Europa League matches thus far. As we discussed yesterday, Baines is the second most popular defender in FPL after serving up a goal or assist in seven of the last nine, and such a level of consistency will surely persuade his owners to hold if the worst-case scenario turns out to be a return in Gameweek 13.

Hodgson Hopeful on Jagielka

The England manager confirmed that Everton’s centre-half was forced off with a dead leg towards the end of last night’s win but is optimistic Jagielka will be available to face Scotland on Tuesday.

The Scout Says: Bearing in mind that both John Stones and Antolin Alcaraz are injured for the Toffees, a stint on the sidelines for Jagielka would leave Sylvain Distin as the only experienced centre-half available. Jagielka has played every minute of the season so far and has already netted twice – despite being overshadowed by Baines, he currently sits on 48 points in the FPL game, level with Branislav Ivanovic. With Hodgson’s words allaying concerns, though, a quick return to action means Jagielka may yet appear on some radars ahead of clashes with West Ham, Spurs, Hull and QPR in the next five.

Schneiderlin Worry for Saints

The Southampton midfielder has been ruled out of France’s friendly against Sweden on Tuesday evening after undergoing scans on his right adductor. Schneiderlin, who was afforded 10 minutes as a late sub during Friday’s draw with Albania, will now return to St Mary’s for further assessment ahead of the weekend trip to Villa.

The Scout Says: Schneiderlin has played every minute of the season so far for Ronald Koeman’s side so a potential absence would be a bitter blow for the Saints. Whilst a total of three goals and an assist has persuaded 17% of FPL managers to snap up his services, the Frenchman’s industrious displays in front of the back-four have also played a major part in delivering seven clean sheets in the opening 11 Gameweeks. With the Saints set to face City, Arsenal, United and Everton in four of the five fixtures directly after their Villa Park visit, an absence for Schneiderlin would place further questions over his side’s ability to retain their resilience over that testing schedule.

Diouf Fires Senegal Into Finals

Stoke striker Mame Biram Diouf headed Senegal into January’s African Cup of Nations by grabbing the match-winner in a 1-0 victory over Algeria yesterday. Southampton’s Sadio Mane and West Ham midfielder enforcer Cheikhou Kouyate also started and, along with Papiss Cisse and Diafra Sakho, are amongst those who’ll be missing from domestic duties in a couple of months’ time.

The Scout Says: The tournament takes place from January 17 until February 8, or Gameweeks 22-24 to you and I. Depending on their nation’s progress, the likes of Sakho, Kouyate and Mane could potentially miss Gameweek 25, when West Ham and Southampton go head-to-head on February 10. Certainly, Sakho’s absence would likely have the biggest impact from a Fantasy perspective, though the tournament also comes at a time where the fixture list stiffens for West Ham – Sam Allardyce’s side face Liverpool, United, Southampton, Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal between Gameweek 23 and 29, suggesting many will be keen to part company during that spell..

Debuchy Nears Gunners Comeback

The Arsenal right-back has confirmed he could be back in action next month as he steps up his recovery from an ankle injury. Speaking to the club’s official website, Debuchy went on to say:

“My injury is now better. I work hard every day with the physio and I want to be back on the pitch in December. I’m looking forward to it.”

The Scout Says: A return to action would immediately place question marks over Calum Chambers’ pitch time at right-back, bearing in mind Debuchy started the first four Gameweeks before succumbing to injury. Now down to 5.2 in FPL, the Frenchman seems likely to reclaim his starting berth on the right, then, though the continued absence of Laurent Koscielny could allow the versatile Chambers to partner Per Mertesacker in the centre of the back-four until the injuries finally clear. As we saw in Gameweeks 3 and 4, though, the 17%-owned Chambers may face a tough task to retain his role once Wenger has a full quota of defenders to choose from, though it remains to be seen just how quickly Koscielny can recover from an ongoing Achilles complaint that has now kept him on the sidelines for the last four Gameweeks.