The Dugout Discussion – Saturday

With no early match to engage us, Fantasy managers can finally get down to business via a batch of six three o’clock kick-offs with some intriguing clashes on offer, brimming with potential point hauls.

Tim Sherwood’s first encounter in charge of Aston Villa sees his side lock horns with injury-hit Stoke City as Christian Benteke is handed the chance to end his eight-Gameweek drought and fire his way onto our Fantasy radars. We’ve put our Scout Pick faith in a instant revival for the Belgian.

Chelsea are the clear favourites for their Saturday clash with Burnley, having only conceded once in their previous seven home ties. Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are both heavily backed in this week’s Captain Poll – the latter has scored in all but one of his nine home appearances so far. Meanwhile, the Clarets star man Danny Ings – who’s netted five times in his last six outings – should keep the Blues’ backline on their toes.

Alan Pardew is looking for a fourth win in six matches in charge of Palace as Arsenal roll up to Selhurst Park. The likes of Jason Puncheon, Dwight Gayle and Yannick Bolasie look the likeliest men for the home side, whilst the Gunners boast a number of form players. Olivier Giroud strengthened his claim to be reinstated as the Gunners’ lone striker with a brace in the FA Cup win over Middlesbrough. Mesut Ozil’s 4.6% ownership will want more of the same from the German playmaker, who’s notched two goals and three assists in the previous three Gameweeks, whilst Alexis Sanchez goes in search of a seventh double-figure haul of the season.

Queens Park Rangers secured their first away win of the campaign last week against Sunderland and will need to overcome a Hull City side that have recorded two clean sheets in their last three home ties. Rangers’ talisman Charlie Austin is available again and is on our radars ahead of their double Gameweek 28, whilst Nikica Jelavic and Dame N’Doye both bagged a goal apiece in the Tigers’ win over Swansea last time around.

Sunderland will be desperate to bounce back from consecutive 2-0 defeats to QPR and Bradford as West Brom roll up to the Stadium of Light. Gus Poyet has his work cut out, though – Tony Pulis’ side now have five clean sheets in eight matches across all competitions since he took charge. Baggies front pair Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye are both thriving under the new manager and threaten to spoil the Black Cats’ clean sheet.

Swansea City welcome back Gylfi Sigurdsson from suspension as the Swans attempt to best Manchester United and record their first home victory of the year. Robin van Persie is fit for the visitors after recovering from a minor injury, whilst Angel di Maria’s owners will be hoping for more of the same after the Argentine delivered a pair of assists in the previous Gameweek.

Later this evening, City play host to Newcastle with Sergio Aguero on show, along with the returning Yaya Toure. With the Ivorian back on board, the champions will be expected to sweep aside Newcastle’s injury-hit backline. Fantasy managers are keeping an eye out for a potential debut for Wilfried Bony, whilst Aguero carries the armband hopes of many heading into the Etihad encounter in a Saturday captaincy head-to-head with Hazard.