Spot the Differential – Gameweek 16

We turn to a trio of fit-again alternatives ahead of this morning’s deadline. City’s fit-again playmaker makes his way to basement-dwellers Leicester, Sunderland’s leading scorer prepares for a home clash with the Hammers, whilst the Gunners’ French forward will be hoping to take advantage of Newcastle’s weakened XI at the Emirates tonight.

DAVID SILVA

The little Spaniard’s return to fitness couldn’t be better timed for Man City, who will be desperate for some inspiration in attack when they travel to Leicester this afternoon. Silva’s timely recovery is also of value for Fantasy managers, with the 8.8-priced playmaker now offering us a differential option for our midfields who will allow us to take full advantage of City’s superb schedule (lei, CPL, wba, BUR, sun).

Silva raced out of the blocks this season with a goal in Gameweek 1 but then fell into the unfortunate pattern of assisting the assister far too often before succumbing to the knee injury that has kept him out of league action until now. Back to full fitness, the Spaniard is likely to slot in behind Edin Dzeko against the Foxes – having been fielded in this role in his previous league appearance, back in Gameweek 9, Silva tallied the most penalty box touches of any midfielder in that round of fixtures and found the back of the net. Encouraging signs then, as he now faces the second worst defence in the league this season, and could well prove their chief tormentor throughout.

STEVEN FLETCHER

The Sunderland striker missed last weekend’s stalemate with Liverpool due to injury, but is all set to slot straight back into the Black Cats’ starting XI for this Saturday’s clash with West Ham. Even with Sergio Aguero’s current band of owners in search of a forward to replace the stricken Argentine, Fletcher has still earned only just over 650 new owners this Gameweek, ensuring that his total ownership comes in at a mere 0.7%.

Such a lack of interest does, however, make the Scot a prime differential option ahead of today’s deadline. The Hammers have managed just three clean sheets so far this season, and are joint worse for chances conceded from central positions in the last two Gameweeks. Fletcher could be poised to take full advantage of that lack of resilience when he lines up at the tip of the Black Cats’ attack come this afternoon; the 5.3-priced forward has bagged braces both times he has found himself on the scoresheet this season, suggesting that, should he be wearing his shooting boots, he could be set for explosive returns. With many managers now weighing up a move to a 3-5-2 set-up, freeing up funds in our frontlines looks top of the agenda, and Fletcher could prove a canny option for those looking to splash the cash elsewhere.

OLIVIER GIROUD

Another out-of-favour striker competing for the affections of Aguero’s lot, the Frenchman will be fully refreshed for the Gunners’ clash with Newcastle this weekend after being ineligible to participate for midweek Champions League duties. Giroud’s minutes continue to be monitored by Arsene Wenger as he eases the striker back from injury, but as the former Montpellier man proved against Man United in Gameweek 12, he needs little time to make an impact.

Following last week’s loss to Stoke, the Gunners bounced back in formidable style against Galatasaray on Wednesday evening, and now face a Newcastle side who have conceded in their last three and are without their first or second choice keeper. Arsenal have created an impressive total of 26 chances across their last two fixtures, and Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez also fully refreshed after a midweek rest, Giroud looks set to be the main beneficiary of that creativity against the Magpies. A look at his stats reveals the 8.1 priced forward has averaged 21.4 minutes per chance across the last four Gameweeks – quicker than the likes of Romelu Lukaku (29.5) or Wayne Rooney (36), for instance, and he will be eager to start converting those attempts against a Magpies side hit hard by injury and suspension.