Scout Scribbles – Giroud Nets Again

Olivier Giroud is amongst the goals yet again as France see off Denmark. Steven Fletcher bags a hat-trick as Scotland rout Gibraltar, Shane Long grabs a vital equaliser for the Republic of Ireland, whilst Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic pops up with a rare goal for Serbia.

Arsenal trio last the distance

Olivier Giroud was on target in France’s 2-0 friendly win over Denmark last night. Mesut Ozil played the full 90 minutes of Germany’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Georgia, providing an assist for Thomas Muller in a comfortable 2-0 victory. Alexis Sanchez also lasted from start to finish as Chile fell to a 1-0 defeat against Brazil in a friendly at the Emirates.

The Scout Says: After playing less than 10 minutes for Les Bleus earlier in the week, Giroud’s goal offers his 15% ownership encouragement that he can perpetuate a five-match scoring streak in the league and register against a resilient Liverpool backline this coming Saturday. Those Fantasy managers not already in possession of the French marksman will likely hold off until after the north London club’s blank Gameweek 33 – and, perhaps, their Gameweek 34 tie against Chelsea – to consider recruiting the red-hot frontman. Ozil has now played from start to finish in both Germany’s matches over the break, whilst Sanchez – despite Arsene Wenger’s fatigue concerns – has played all but 45 minutes over Chile’s pair of fixtures. At least the South American showdown took place on home soil, ensuring that long-haul flights aren’t a factor for Sanchez to contend with.

Fletcher nets historic hat-trick

Steven Fletcher recorded Scotland’s first hat-trick in over 46 years as they thrashed Gibraltar 6-1 in their Euro 2016 home qualifier. Everton’s Steven Naismith was also amongst the goals, side-footing in from close range to give the hosts an unassailable 4-1 lead before half time.

The Scout Says: Fletcher has been deployed in a wide role for Sunderland in their last two fixtures but yesterday’s showing may persuade new manager Dick Advocaat to shift him to the centre alongside Jermain Defoe in a change of tactics. The Black Cats boss rolled out a 4-3-3 in his first match in charge and handed Fletcher and Connor Wickham the roles out wide, though is keen to bring Adam Johnson back into contention after ending the winger’s club suspension for the trip to West Ham. In all honesty, though, the Wearsiders’ tough run-in – which includes trips to Everton, Arsenal and Chelsea – limits our interest in Fletcher as a potential budget forward. Naismith, meanwhile, will be hoping to take advantage of the injury situation up front at Everton in order to earn a first start since Gameweek 28. Roberto Martinez has recently moved to 4-4-2, with Romelu Lukaku partnered by Arouna Kone, but with both still doubtful due to hamstring and knee injuries, the Scot – priced at just 4.8 – may find himself back in contention ahead of clashes with Swansea, Burnley, Villa and Sunderland in the next six.

Montero concern for Swans

Jefferson Montero is a doubt for Ecuador’s friendly against Argentina on Wednesday after being subbed off in their Mexico clash due to an apparent thigh injury.

The Scout Says: Montero has hardly been a key figure for Swansea this campaign, only managing one league start since the turn of the year. Garry Monk’s decision to switch to 4-3-2-1 and hand Wayne Routledge a central support role beside Gylfi Sigurdsson has limited Montero’s potential, though the latter has been pushing for more pitch time in recent outings after supplying an assist off the bench in two of the last four league fixtures. Given that the Swans have five excellent upcoming fixtures (HUL, EVE, lei, new, STO), investment in their main men looks a viable tactic, though it remains to be seen whether the Ecuadorian can find a place in his manager’s first XI plans.

De Jong closing in on return

Siem de Jong is scheduled to return to training with Newcastle in a fortnight after recovering from a collapsed lung. The former Ajax star has spent his time on the sidelines analysing the Toons’ matches and feels that he can exploit the space in “the hole” that’s usually vacated by opposing teams:

”I think it’s a really good position for me and I’ve seen a lot of games in England now. A lot of teams play with two strikers, or one striker and two wingers. The position behind the striker is usually free, which is interesting. We’ve tried to play with it but Moussa (Sissoko) is more of a player who goes to the outside and runs with the ball more. I’m more of a player who holds the ball and tries to find the holes in between. I’ve seen a lot of games where there is space in between the holes and I think: ‘I could have made a big difference there!’ I still think it’s a great role for me but I have to earn it.”

The Scout Says: If he can prove his fitness and return to action before the season is out, the 6.8-priced De Jong certainly has the fixtures to flourish. Newcastle are handed a quintet of favourable clashes (SWA, lei, WBA, qpr, WHU) in the final five Gameweeks which look potentially profitable to the Dutchman who netted 10+ times in four of his last five campaigns in the Eredivisie. Remy Cabella and Yoan Gouffran have operated in that No. 10 role in recent weeks to limited effect, paving the way for De Jong to belatedly show why the club splashed the cash to take him from Ajax last summer.

Matic effort not enough for Serbia

Nemanja Matic scored a consolation goal in Serbia’s 2-1 loss to Portugal in their European Championship qualifier, rifling in an overhead volley from a tight angle inside the penalty box. Aleksandar Kolarov played the full 90 minutes against A Seleccao on his return from injury.

The Scout Says: Matic’s acrobatic effort is somewhat of a collectors item for the Chelsea enforcer, having only tallied three goals in 57 starts since his move to Stamford Bridge. Clearly, Blues boss Jose Mourinho is far more concerned with the Serbian’s ability to break up possession in the centre of the park, a pursuit that could be negatively affected by the threat of suspension – Matic is currently one yellow card away from a two-match ban and will have to watch his step during encounters with Stoke and QPR before the April 14 cut-off date. Kolarov’s return to action could prevent Gael Clichy from earning a third successive start at left-back as the Sky Blues gear up for a visit to Crystal Palace; with three goals conceded in the last five, the champions are starting to look a reliable source of defensive returns.

Long’s last-gasp strike earns Ireland draw

Shane Long netted a stoppage-time goal for the Republic of Ireland, earning a vital 1-1 draw against Group D opponents Poland to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The Scout Says: Despite only entering the fray in the 83^rd minute, Long’s eye for goal was quickly in evidence for the home side as he continued his recent domestic form. In light of Graziano Pelle’s 13-match goal drought, Saints boss Ronald Koeman has started Long in the previous two fixtures – the last of which saw the Ex-Hull frontman bag his third goal of the campaign. With showdowns against five of the bottom eight in the next seven Gameweeks, the 5.4-priced striker has the platform to end the season strongly as Koeman attempts to take advantage of the schedule and steer his side to a top-four finish.