Scout Scribbles – Rooney Finds His Form

Wayne Rooney fires a hat-trick as United ease into the Champions League group stages. Romelu Lukaku bags a brace as Everton overcome battling Barnsley. Moussa Sissoko is on course for a weekend return, Julian Speroni steps up his recovery, whilst Sadio Mane remains doubtful for Southampton.

Rooney Fires United into Group Stages

Manchester United coasted through to the group stages of the Champions League courtesy of a Wayne Rooney hat-trick. Ander Herrera bagged a goal and assist in a 4-0 win against Club Brugges, while Juan Mata, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Memphis Depay delivered the final passes for the other strikes. Louis van Gaal named just two changes from the XI that drew 0-0 with Newcastle, drafting Michael Carrick and Herrera in for Morgan Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger at the double pivot. Javier Hernandez missed a penalty in the 81^st minute.

The Scout Says: In the wake of three successive blanks on the goal front, Rooney’s ownership is plummeting fast across the Fantasy games. Nonetheless, for those 26% of FPL managers still in possession of the United frontman, Rooney’s confidence-boosting performance away from the home comforts of Old Trafford offers hope ahead of a trip to Swansea this Sunday. Herrera impressed in his first start of the campaign, particularly when he was pushed into the number ten role following the substitution of Adnan Januzaj at the break. The latter’s chances of claiming a starting berth at the Liberty Stadium now look slim off the back of two lackluster performances, with Herrera and suspension-free Marouane Fellaini looking the likeliest candidates to take up the central support berth against Garry Monk’s in-form outfit .

Lukaku Brace Seals Toffees’ Passage

Everton triumphed 5-3 over League One opponents Barnsley after their League Cup Second Round clash ended 3-3 in regulation time. Romelu Lukaku continued his fine scoring form with a brace, whilst Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith etched their names onto the scoresheet, with an own goal accounting for the Toffees’ breakthrough in extra time. Roberto Martinez elected to field a strong side, with Arouna Kone, James McCarthy, Ross Barkley and Tim Howard the only notable first-teamers not included in the starting line-up. Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu were called upon at half time to assist the rescue effort and achieved just that, with the former grabbing an assist and the Spaniard staking his claim for a starting role with a trio of assists at Oakwell.

The Scout Says: Although Lukaku’s 18.5% ownership will have been delighted to watch the Belgian marksman net his third and fourth goals of the season, they’ll be slightly concerned by the fact he lasted the full 122 minutes just three days before they’re set to host Spurs at Goodison Park. Furthermore, it was clearly Martinez’s intention to afford Barkley the night off, yet the situation necessitated his involvement – which amounted to 77 minutes in all. The attacking returns from Mirallas, Naismith and Deulofeu highlight the competition for places at the wide berths in Everton’s 4-2-3-1 set-up, ensuring that Kone and Cleverley are one slip-up away from relinquishing their slots. With the short-term schedule very much against then, though, few will be prepared to snap up any Everton players until the fixtures turn in their favour around Gameweek 11.

Magpies Hopeful on Sissoko

Moussa Sissoko could be available for selection when Newcastle host Arsenal on Saturday, having stepped up his recovery from the groin strain he sustained in Gameweek 2. Speaking to the local press, Steve McClaren revealed:

“He has been out on the grass, so we will take it a day at a time. It’s touch and go, but it would be nice to get him back, and also Daryl (Janmaat) is back, so we started the week well, continued it and we have a pretty big game on Saturday now.”

The Scout Says: Although Ayoze Perez performed admirably on the right flank against Manchester United – particularly with regards to his tracking back – Sissoko is likely to reclaim his starting berth against the Gunners. Gabriel Obertan has been deployed on the left wing for the Magpies’ opening trio of match-ups, yet the starring display from new recruit Florian Thauvin (one goal and three assists) during their 4-1 victory over Northampton Town could convince Steve McClaren to hand the Frenchman his maiden league start. Priced at 6.5, Thauvin tallied more assists (seven) and racked up key passes at greater frequency (one every 47.1 minutes) than any Toon midfielder last term.

Speroni Steps Up Recovery

Having returned to light training on Wednesday, Julian Speroni is expected to return to full training next week as he continues his rehabilitation from a finger injury:

The Scout Says: Despite the fact that Crystal Palace face the hardest upcoming trio of fixtures (che, MCI, tot) of any side in the league, Alex McCarthy – who’s served as the Eagles’ stand-in shot-stopper while Speroni has been sidelined – boasts an 11% ownership by virtue of his budget 4.0 price tag. Given that the forntight’s international break is just around the corner, there’s a chance that Speroni could well be between the sticks for Palace at the Etihad, lumbering McCarthy owners with a non-playing keeper that’s bound to drop in price.

Mixed Injury News for Saints

Ronald Koeman revealed that Victor Wanyama has not travelled with Southampton’s squad ahead of their Europa League clash with FC Midtjylland due to a stomach bug, while he remains optimistic that Sadio Mane will recover from the hip complaint that forced him off against Watford last weekend:

“Victor didn’t travel with the team because he is ill and the latest update from the doctor is that he has a stomach infection. We found out Victor wasn’t coming on the trip this morning. I have to believe the doctor. I hope he will be available for the weekend but we will have to wait. Sadio is doubtful. Normally he will do the beginning of the session (on Wednesday), separate of the team. Maybe he can be involved in the second part.”

The Scout Says: Mane’s potential return could be good news for his owners ahead of the weekend home encounter with Norwich. Although the Senegal international has failed to score this season, Koeman’s decision to switch to 3-4-1-2 at Vicarage Road, handing Mane a spot up front alongside Graziano Pelle, boosts his potential as an out of position prospect. Wanyama is the preferred budget midfield option in the FPL game this season – the 4.5-priced Kenyan sits in over 14% of sides and helped his side earn their first clean sheet of the season last time out. With fellow defensive midfielder Jordy Clasie still on the sidelines through injury, those holding Saints defenders will be hoping Wanyama recovers in time to offer protection to the Saints backline against a Norwich side that sits third for attempts on goal (55) after three rounds of fixtures.