Scout Picks – Gameweek 13

Ahead of this evening’s 7pm deadline, we reveal the players from our midweek Scout Squad article who have earned a place in the Scout Picks XI.

Despite conceding a first home goal of the season against Newcastle United last time out, we have once again turned to David de Gea (5.8) as cover of the Manchester United defence in the continued absence of injured centre-back Phil Jones.

We are confident that the Red Devils’ stopper – the top scoring goalkeeper in Fantasy Premier League – will immediately make amends. United’s visitors Brighton are the fourth-worst side in terms of goal attempts (51) in away matches and have failed to score in half of their six road trips. They’ve also been defeated in both matches to top six sides this season, losing 2-0 on both occasions.

In defence, Nicholas Otamendi (5.8) makes a return to the Picks following a one-week suspension and with a favourable away encounter with Huddersfield Town. Granted, the Terriers scored two against Manchester United at the John Smiths Stadium in Gameweek 9, but we feel that the 4-0 home defeat handed out by Spurs in Gameweek 7 is a better indicator of their current form. David Wagner’s side suffered another 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth only last weekend.

Away from home, City have the best record in terms of clean sheets (four), goals conceded (three) and shots allowed (36), giving us plenty of confidence in Otamendi helping keep the Terriers at bay. With a pair of goals this season and bonus awards on two occasions, the Argentine has also proved that he can collect points from several sources.

We freely admit we are taking a risk in selecting Spurs’ Ben Davies (5.7) for West Brom’s visit to Wembley Stadium, with the rotation with Danny Rose ongoing.

However, having been rested for the midweek Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund, Davies looks poised to earn a first domestic home start since Gameweek 3.

Should he make the teamsheet, the rewards could be significant. Davies has notched two goals and three assists this season, collecting bonus points on three occasions. In addition, his prospects of adding to his three clean sheets look strong as he faces a managerless Baggies outfit that have scored just two goals over the last four Gameweeks.

Scott Dann (4.7) claims a berth in our Picks as we gamble on the Crystal Palace skipper delivering points at both ends of the pitch against visitors Stoke City.

The Eagles have tightened up markedly at the back of late, with only Manchester City conceding fewer penalty area shots (11) than the Eagles (19) over their last four matches. The centre-back’s seven shots – all in the box – over that same period also hints that a first goal of the season is imminent.

By opting for a 4-4-2 formation, we have enough spare change in our 84 million budget to splash out on Arsenal’s rampaging left wing-back Sead Kolasinac (6.0) for a trip to Burnley.

With Shkodran Mustafi back from injury, the Gunners backline looks far more resilient, earning shutouts in all but one of the German centre-back’s six starts. In addition, Kolasinac offers the potential of attacking returns: he has produced three assists and a goal already this season.

Leroy Sane’s (9.0) security of starts and sensational form has earned the Manchester City winger another Scout Picks selection.

He travels to Huddersfield bidding to earn his sixth double-digit points return, having already accrued ten bonus points, six goals and as many assists.

A rest in midweek for the 1-0 Champions League victory over Feyenoord indicates he will be on Pep Guardiola’s teamsheet once again – that would be his eighth successive Premier League start. Guardiola’s comments on Monday stated that the German winger is required to add width down the left in the absence of long-term injury victim Benjamin Mendy, suggesting that Sane’s run in the City starting XI will continue.

A goal and assist against Newcastle last time out, on his return from a seven-match injury lay-off, underlines Paul Pogba’s (8.0) potential to impress. The Frenchman’s impact against the Magpies, a points per match average of 8.6 and a home fixture with Brighton is enough to earn his selection. While Jose Mourinho has today indicated that the midfielder’s minutes will be curtailed as he recovers full fitness, we saw last weekend that Pogba is capable of inflicting heavy damage, even when withdrawn late on.

While the Seagulls have conceded a credible seven goals on the road, their 2-2 home draw against Stoke on Monday highlighted a frailty that could be exploited by a Pogba-powered United that have scored 19 at Old Trafford this season.

Richarlison’s (6.5) away points average of 7.2, coupled with the fact he’s had more penalty area shots (20) than any other player on the road, ensures the Watford winger retains his berth in the Picks.

He seems well placed to add to his four goals and two assists in away matches when he pays visit to a Newcastle United defence that has kept just a single clean sheet in their last eight outings.

Wilfried Zaha (6.8) is another midfielder to earn a recall in our selection. Like Richarlison, he rewarded us with a goal in Gameweek 12 and has now scored in three successive home matches ahead of Stoke’s visit to Selhurst Park. The Potters defence have conceded an average of two goals-a-game this season.

Pogba’s return to the Manchester United line-up ensures that we stick by Romelu Lukaku (11.5). Still owned by 48% of managers, the Belgian broke a seven-match goal drought in all competitions with his Gameweek 12 strike. With a goal or an assist in five of his six Old Trafford matches, he remains difficult to ignore ahead of Brighton’s visit.

Captain Poll leader Harry Kane (12.8) may well be battling for his future in the Scout Picks when West Brom drop in on Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

The striker has delivered attacking returns in just one of Spurs’ six ‘home’ fixtures – a brace against Liverpool in Gameweek 9. This wretched run includes failing to find the net against Swansea City, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Bournemouth who, like the Baggies, are all sides content to concede possession and soak up pressure.

But with more shots (37) and shots in the box (24) than any other player in home matches, Kane could very well punish the 69,000+ FPL managers who have parted company ahead of Gameweek 13.

We have handed a bench place to Charlie Daniels (4.9) as Bournemouth continue their kind run of fixtures with a trip to Swansea. The left-back – who picked up two bonus points in the Cherries’ 4-0 home victory over Huddersfield last weekend – travels to Wales in search of his third successive clean sheet. With just four home goals, fewer than any other side, Paul Clement’s troops could be set to oblige.

Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez (8.4) earns a substitute’s berth on the back of a strong recent run of form that has brought two goals and three assists in his last five matches. He faces a West Ham side that have conceded more goals (25) than any other.

Our final bench spot goes to another of Eddie Howe’s squad, as striker Callum Wilson (6.0) earns Scout Picks recognition. He has claimed more than 172,000 new owners following his hat-trick at home to Huddersfield Town last weekend. Opponents Swansea have kept just a single clean sheet for six home matches, handing visitors more big chances (15) than any other home defence.

The Community Champion

The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season.

This week’s champion is André94PT, who has opted for a 4-3-3 line up of: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Trippier, Walker; De Bruyne, Mahrez, Alli; Vardy, Wood, Jesus.