Scout Notes – International Round Up

Stoke manager Mark Hughes has mixed feelings, Tottenham’s Son keeps on scoring, Liverpool duo Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino also notch as Brazil coast against Bolivia, whilst Hector Bellerin is set for scans on an ankle problem

Mixed News for Sparky

The footballing lord giveth and then he taketh away – at least where Stoke boss Mark Hughes is concerned.

His two highest-scoring Fantasy Premier League midfielders, Marko Arnautovic (7.2) and Joe Allen (4.8), made telling contributions for their national teams.

Arnautovic, with just the one Premier League goal to his name, has cut a rather frustrated figure at Stoke this season, so his double for Austria against Wales would have done him, and his club manager, the power of good.

Add in Allen’s stunning volley for the Welsh – his third goal in as many matches – and Hughes should have been purring.

Instead, he had to endure the news that Allen later limped off with a hamstring issue that makes him a doubt for a Sunday match with Georgia, according to Wales manager Chris Coleman.

“He had a twinge in his hamstring, so that’s why we took him off immediately. We’ll assess him in the next 24-48 hours. He’ll be scanned and it’s how he reacts. If anything comes up on the scan, we wouldn’t gamble with any of the players because it’s not in our interests to do that. Joe belongs to Stoke City and we have to send him back in the condition that we received him. That’s why we he came off.”

The scoring in the match was an all-Premier League affair, with Tottenham defender Kevin Wimmer (4.7) hitting an own goal for the Welsh.

Son Keeps Shining

Man of the moment Heung-Min Son (7.6) took his Tottenham form back home with the winning goal, and an assist, for South Korea against Qatar.

The Spurs midfielder, on a run of four goals and two assists in four domestic starts, is this week’s top FPL transfer target, with more 131,000 managers drafting him into their sides ahead of a trip to the Hawthorns.

And he continued his great start to the season when he fired home from an assist by Swansea midfielder Sung-yeung Ki (5.2).

Ki, who has started just two league matches this season, had earlier opened the scoring from a Son pass, giving a timely reminder to new Swans boss Bob Bradley of his pedigree.

As did Gylfi Sigurdsson, who bagged an assist in Iceland’s 3-2 win over Finland.

Reds Pair In the Goals Again

Liverpool duo Philippe Coutinho (8.3) and Roberto Firmino (8.4) both scored as Brazil swept past Bolivia 5-0 in the early hours of this morning.

Coutinho played the full 90 minutes and also earned an assist – teeing up Firmino, who emerged as a second-half sub to find the net.

Although both have a trip to Venezuela in the early hours of Wednesday morning, it’s worth noting that Liverpool don’t play in Gameweek 8 until 8pm on Monday night at home to Man United, giving both plenty of time to recuperate.

Following that clash, the Reds’ superb upcoming schedule – which takes them all the way up to Boxing Day (or Gameweek 18 to you and I) is set to earn Jurgen Klopp’s regulars significant Fantasy investment.

Tadic on Top Form

Dusan Tadic (7.2) played a part in all of Serbia’s goals in a 3-0 win over Moldova.

The Southampton midfielder supplied the assists for his nation’s first two strikes before netting a third.

Tadic is in solid form going into Gameweek 8’s home match with Burnley – he has a goal and two assists from his last four league starts, blanking in just one of those outings – and famously scored 23 points in the GW8 of 2014/15 as the Saints humbled Sunderland 8-0.

If the theorists are to be believed, Southampton’s supposed taste for stellar GW8 performances – they also beat Chelsea in London last season – could signal another big day for Tadic.

Bellerin Concern for Gunners

Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin is set to be assessed after sustaining an ankle problem whilst on duty for Spain Under 21s last night.

Early reports suggest that the right-back’s issue is not thought to be too serious, though with an FPL ownership in excess of 25%, further updates will be eagerly awaited.

Bellerin has risen to third in the FPL defender standings on the back of three clean sheets, an assist and five bonus points in the last six Gameweeks.

With Swansea, Middlesbrough and Sunderland up next for Arsene Wenger’s side, further points look on the agenda if he proves his fitness in time.

More Right-Backs in Focus..

Man United’s Antonio Valencia (5.6) was the star of the show for Ecuador in a 3-0 win over Alexis Sanchez’ Chile late last night.

Stationed in an attacking midfield role, the Red Devils’ defender grabbed a goal and assist, with namesake Enner Valencia (5.4) earning an assist.

Sanchez played the full 90 minutes for the beaten visitors.

Everton’s Seamus Coleman (5.5) scored his first ever international goal to help the Republic of Ireland to an unimpressive 1-0 win over Georgia last night.

Owned by just 4.7% of FPL managers, Coleman continued the fine domestic form that has seen him serve up a goal, a clean sheet and four bonus points in the last three Gameweeks.

With trips to Manchester City and Chelsea in the next four, though, our faith in the Toffees’ defence is on the slide.

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic (5.9) was also on target in Serbia’s win over Moldova.
He can only hope his club boss Antonio Conte, who dropped him for last weekend’s trip to Hull, was at least reminded of his threat going forward.

Finally, City’s Pablo Zabaleta earned an assist in Argentina’s 2-2 draw in Peru, with Everton’s forgotten centre-half Ramiro Funes Mori (4.8) opening the scoring.

Sergio Aguero was replaced on 73 minutes after failing to find the net.