Scout Notes – Sakho Blow For Palace

A Crystal Palace penalty miss overshadows the more pressing matter of an injury to their defensive kingpin, while a former Fantasy favourite finds form for Bournemouth and there are further losses for Brighton and Newcastle.

Christian Benteke’s penalty debacle stole all the headlines, but an injury to Mamadou Sakho was the more significant news for Fantasy managers.

The Crystal Palace centre-half had seen his ownership shoot up tenfold on the back of a goal and two clean sheets from his previous three starts, with a knack for bagging bonus points – eight of them in the same time frame – further strengthening his appeal.

But he lasted just 24 minutes of yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, with Eagles boss Roy Hodgson pessimistic post-match about his man’s calf issue.

“He’ll be assessed tomorrow. I couldn’t possibly give you a timescale. But when I saw him hobbling off like that, having obviously pulled or seriously strained the calf muscle, my experience tells me it’s weeks rather than days.”

Sakho was the second most popular defensive signing of Gameweek 16, behind only Arsenal’s Sead Kolasinac. Now found in 2.3% of FPL squads, he will be a huge blow to a Palace rearguard that had kept consecutive clean sheets prior to Saturday’s contest, even with Scott Dann returning to offset the loss.

Dann got the Palace opener – bizarrely his fourth in the last four matches versus Bournemouth – and is available for 0.3 less than Sakho (5.0) for those seeking a straight swap ahead of matches with Watford, Leicester City and Swansea City.

There could be further trouble brewing for Palace if Wilfried Zaha’s role in their first-half penalty – dispatched by regular (and reliable) spot-kick man Milo Milivojevic – comes under FA investigation, as Everton’s Oumar Niasse knows only too well.

Defoe hints at revival

Another to have his day overshadowed by Benteke’s spot-kick shenanigans was Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe.

The forward’s stop-start season with the Cherries had produced just one goal and an assist from 15 frustrating Gameweeks.

But he reminded us all of his pedigree with a brace at Palace yesterday.

His 7.6 price tag demands consistent returns, but this is an asset who has scored 15 goals over each of the last two seasons, so he is proven.

Defoe kept fellow striker Callum Wilson (4.5%) out of the starting line-up, with the latter replacing him for the last ten minutes of the tumultuous match at Selhurst Park.

And the roles may well be reversed for Wednesday’s trip to Old Trafford as coach Eddie Howe manages the 35-year-old’s minutes over the packed festive schedule.

That’s not stopped 8,000+ making Wilson the second most sold player of the weekend – only Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata has been ditched by more.

Bournemouth’s next three Gameweeks – trips to both Manchester clubs and a visit from Liverpool – will be a factor in that.

Elsewhere, Andrew Surman again boosted his credentials as a fifth midfielder option.

Priced at 4.8 in FPL, he provided an assist yesterday to make it four in the last six Gameweeks adding to his two goals so far this term.

Seagulls under strain

The appeal of Brighton assets has been constructed on defensive solidity and the returns from midfield of Pascal Gross.

Both were notable by their absence in the 2-0 loss at Huddersfield Town, and it’s now just one clean sheet in five for Chris Hughton’s men.

Keeper Mat Ryan (1.1%) was at fault for the Terriers’ second goal, while there was little joy for Markus Suttner’s ownership either as he returned to the starting XI in place of Gaetan Bong and promptly delivered just the one point.

Hughton freshened things up further by excluding Anthony Knockaert from the matchday squad altogether, although he did travel to Yorkshire and will be expected to face Spurs on Wednesday.

As for Gross, at 21.1% the side’s most popular player by a country mile, it was a fifth blank in six matches and he was subbed off after 62 minutes, with Wednesday in mind.

That has prompted managers to make him the third most sold player ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

Gray and Mahrez sparkle

Riyad Mahrez caught the eye in Leicester City’s 3-2 win at struggling Newcastle United.

The Algerian scored for the fourth time in nine Gameweeks – he also has four assists – but he still only resides in 5.3% of squads, despite his form now being replicated by the team as a whole.

The Foxes have won three straight matches under Claude Puel, with Mahrez bagging 24 points. His 8.4 price tag, however, is proving problematic when given the competition for the heavy-hitter roles in our midfields.

As a result, the far cheaper Demarai Gray (5.3) continues to stake a more convincing claim for inclusion as a fourth or fifth midfield option.

Puel has strongly backed the young winger since taking over at Leicester, and Gray has now responded with back-to-back goals, with three in total across the Frenchman’s seven-match reign.

Goals continue to elude Jamie Vardy, however.

The striker has just one from the last six, with the addition of an assist scant reward for the 16.9% of managers who have stuck by him.

His ownership has actually increased by 169,000 over the past two Gameweeks, but he remains unconvincing – and at 8.6 decidedly pricey – as a third striker.

Leicester’s form might convince many to hold, but their schedule (sot CRY MUN wat liv HUD che) is a very mixed bag.

As for Newcastle, Rafa Benitez’s line-up continues to look unsettled in key areas.

The coach’s decision to drop Rob Elliot for Gameweek 14 left 24.9% of managers in the lurch.

But his replacement, Karl Darlow, was unconvincing yesterday, which could mean a return to action for Elliot in the now vital midweek meeting with Everton.

The 6.1%-owned Jamaal Lascelles looks certain to be back on Wednesday after missing the last five matches through injury.

Investment in the Newcastle backline is a fraught affair at present, however. They’ve kept just three clean sheets all season, and none since Gameweek 9.

Striker Dwight Gayle is at least beginning to show consistency. He’s started four of the last five Gameweeks and has produced three goals and an assist in that run. Priced at 6.1, he could now be considered as a potential third striker candidate.