Scout Notes – International Round-up

Dusan Tadic and Diego Costa maintain a rich vein of form but can’t prevent an injury scare for Sergio Aguero from dominating this morning’s matters.

Aguero Concern for Guardiola

According to reports surfacing from the Argentina camp, Sergio Aguero suffered a calf strain in training and is now a doubt for their World Cup qualifier with Paraguay on Tuesday.

Reports suggest that the City striker will undergo scans ahead of Tuesday’s encounter, with Pep Guardiola undoubtedly waiting anxiously for a prognosis.

Aguero has suffered from a string of calf problems of late and was withdrawn from the Argentina squad back in August with a similar complaint.

Guardiola and Aguero’s army of Fantasy Premier League owners will now wait on further news ahead of City’s Gameweek 8 Etihad meeting with Everton.

The City boss can at least take some comfort from the fact that Kelechi Iheanacho (6.9) remains in scoring form: the 20-year-old was on target for Nigeria in their 2-1 win over Zambia.

There were also notable performances elsewhere in the City camp, as Nolito (8.8) registered a goal for Spain against Albania, with David Silva (8.7) providing an assist.

Silva has been subdued in the league to date, with just the one assist from six starts, while Nolito has two goals and two assists despite only starting four matches.

With Kevin De Bruyne (10.6) remaining a doubt for the Everton clash, Nolito’s goal served as a timely reminder to coach Pep Guardiola of his capabilities.

The winger will be eligible to return to the City line-up having served out his three-match ban in the defeat to Spurs in Gameweek 7.

Left-back Aleksandar Kolarov (5.9) completed the solid City showing over the weekend with an assist for Serbia’s winner against Austria.

Star Turn Tadic

If there was an award for player of the international break, Serbia’s Dusan Tadic (7.2) would be wise to start working on his acceptance speech.

The Southampton midfielder scored one and set up two in Thursday’s 3-0 victory in Moldova and did precisely the same last night to help his country to a 3-2 home win over Austria.

Tadic went into the international break in decent form, with a goal and two assists from his last four starts, and has a good fixture at home to Burnley on Sunday to try and continue in the same vein.

Throw in the theory that the Saints have a thing for Gameweek 8 performances – an 8-0 mauling of Sunderland followed by a win at Stamford Bridge last year – and Tadic looks an attractive prospect.

But Man City away and Chelsea at home to follow will be considerably tougher tests for the Saints – and they might have to face them without Shane Long (6.1).

The Republic of Ireland striker has blanked in the league this season, but scored the opener in the Republic of Ireland’s 3-1 win in Moldova before hobbling off in the second half with a suspected hamstring injury.

A potential absence for Long would seem certain to cement Charlie Austin’s starting role. Austin has started the last two Premier League outings, restricting Long to appearances from the bench.

With new signing Sofiane Boufal also nearing fitness, Long’s position in the Saints’ pecking order is now in serious doubt.

Costa continues to tempt investors

Spain’s players had a whip round to give Diego Costa (10.1) a laptop and a cake for his birthday before the Chelsea striker paid it back with yet another goal – the opener in the 2-0 win over Albania.

There are few forwards in better shape than Costa at the moment. Six goals and two assists have taken him to the top of the FPL strikers’ charts with 46 points and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sergio Aguero are the only front men owned by more managers than his 29.1% of backers.

Only Tottenham Hotspurs’ Son Heung-min has enjoyed more FPL investment over the break so far, with Costa earning almost 100,000 new owners at the time of writing.

Chelsea have three home matches out of the next four coming up, but face Leicester City, Man United and Everton, with a tricky trip to Southampton thrown in

And Costa wouldn’t be Costa without a suspension threat hanging over him – he picked up his fourth yellow card of the season in the Gameweek 6 loss at Arsenal – so is one caution away from a ban.

Iwobi nets for Nigerians

Alex Iwobi (5.8) stock continues to rise home and away, having starred and scored for Nigeria in their win over Zambia.

The 20-year-old has started the last three matches for the Gunners to offer a cut-price route into the Arsenal midfield ahead of blossoming fixtures.

With Swansea City and Middlesbrough at home and Sunderland away to come over the next three Gamweeks, Iwobi presents a viable option for those unable to stretch to cover Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott.

Given his current form for club and country, Iwobi’s minutes look protected – particularly while Sanchez remains Arsene Wenger’s option as a central striker.

Heaton Bows Out of England squad

Burnley’s Tom Heaton added to a cast of notable injury doubts ahead of Gameweek 8 with news of his withdrawal from the England squad for the trip to Slovenia.

The news broke overnight with Burnley’s official Twitter account announcing that Heaton was being withdrawn due to “minor injury”.

Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford – another key Fantasy asset – has been called up to replace Heaton in the squad.

McClean at the double

West Brom wide man James McClean (5.0) was instrumental in Republic of Ireland’s 3-1 win over Moldova.

The Baggies wide man netted twice in the second period, as he steps up in form after producing a goal and assist in the first seven Gameweeks.

McClean has started four of the last five Premier League fixtures, yet with Spurs, Liverpool, Man City and Leicester up next, investment in Tony Pulis’ team looks best left for the time being.

Seamus Coleman (5.5) – who notched the winner against Georgia earlier in the international break – provided an assist, as did Stoke City’s Jon Walters (5.7)