Scout Picks Gameweek 1

After rolling out our Scout Picks Squad on Tuesday evening, it’s now time to reveal our selections for Gameweek 1 of the 2016/17 season.

We call upon a trio of Leicester players for their trip to injury-hit Hull, whilst Southampton are also prominent in our plans as Watford roll up to St Mary’s.

As with last season, a Community Champion will be taking us on each week. The budget is currently capped at 83m, although this may be increased as the campaign progresses.

At 4.5, Burnley’s Tom Heaton is our pick of this Gameweek’s goalkeepers. With the third highest number of saves in 2014/15 – the last time Burnley were in the Premier League – we feel he has plenty of points potential this week when Swansea visit. A clean sheet also looks likely as Swansea look to adapt to life without their top scorer last term, Andre Ayew, who has moved to West Ham. Just 4.2% of FPL managers have drafted the Claretsstopper in so far.

Managerless Hull are decimated by injuries, leaving little hope of attacking returns when Leicester visit. Last season’s fifth highest point scoring defender in FPL last term, Christian Fuchs (5.5), is our pick of the Foxes’ backline thanks to his knack of picking up FPL bonus points. Last season no other defender earned more than the 12.5% owned Austrian’s tally of 25.

Promoted Middlesbrough’s team sheet is awash with strong budget options this season, with left-back and 5.4%-owned George Friend no exception. Priced at 4.5, he has a strong chance of a shut out when Stoke visit and his 2.5 interceptions per match with 2.3 tackles won last season bode well for bonus potential.

With three goals and 29 goal attempts in 2015/16, we are hoping for returns at both ends of the pitch for Southampton centre back Virgil van Djik (5.5) when Watford visit. So far 13.4% of FPL managers are also backing his broad potential for points.

Riyad Mahrez (9.5) was poised to miss out in this week’s picks after a summer where his future at Leicester had been dogged by transfer gossip. With promising signs that he is staying put for the time being, a visit to Hull looks ideal for him to continue where he left off last season. The 26.5% of FPL managers that have already drafted him in certainly don’t need reminding of a stellar 2015/16 campaign, where he finished as FPL’s top scorer with 240 points. Encouragingly, 12 of Mahrez’ 17 goals arrived away from home last term.

Our second heavy hitter in midfield is Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (10m), who we are backing to recover from a largely disastrous 2015/16 season. Three goals in pre-season and the faith of new manager Antonio Conte give us cause for optimism ahead of West Ham’s visit to Stamford Bridge. Despite a relatively small tally of just five strikes last term, he has still earned the backing of 17% of FPL managers and could give Hammers’ right-back Michail Antonio a torrid time down the flank on Monday night.

Under new manager Claude Puel, Southampton have revamped their formation to create a midfield diamond with Dusan Tadic sparkling as the most advanced player behind a front two. The 7.5 midfielder, who is owned by only 5.4% of FPL managers, is also on penalties, which further enhances his appeal when Watford come calling.

Andros Townsend (5.9% FPL ownership) excelled for Newcastle at the tail end of last season and we anticipate he will do the same again in a wide role at Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace. Priced at 6.5 he faces a West Brom side that has struggled in pre-season, where the Baggies kept just one clean sheet in six friendlies.

Sunderland have been historically woeful away to Manchester City, shipping 12 goals n their last four Premier League visits. This presents a golden opportunity for Sergio Aguero (13.0) to add to his 102 league goals since joining City in 2011. Given his pedigree, it is no surprise the Argentine leads our Captain Poll for Gameweek 1 and is currently the most popular player in FPL, with a 41% ownership. There is a word of caution, though. While City have regularly put the Black Cats to the sword at home, Sunderland’s new manager David Moyes has a far better record. In his last four seasons with Everton he was only beaten once away to City in the league.

Our lack of faith in Hull’s decimated squad persuades us to triple up on the champions. With 24 goals Jamie Vardy (10.0) narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot last term and looks set to kick start another challenge for the accolade at the KC tomorrow. A goal against Manchester United in the Community Shield will have further fuelled his confidence and optimism amongst his 23.7% FPL managers. Vardy makes our XI at the expense of Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.5), due to the Manchester United striker’s lack of Premier League pedigree and slightly less favourable fixture, away to Bournemouth.

Andre Gray (6.5) is our pick of the more reasonably-priced strikers for Gameweek 1. The Burnley forward looks primed to take advantage of Ashley Williams’ departure to Everton this week, as Swansea make their way to Turf Moor. With nine goals in pre-season Gray certainly has strong form on his side to punish the Swans.

Just missing out on a place in our XI is Crystal Palace’s surprise joint top goal scorer last term, Scott Dann (5.5). With the notoriously defensive West Brom visiting, we have strong hopes of a clean sheet as well as the possibility of attacking returns for the centre back.

Roberto Firmino (8.5), who could be fielded as a false nine away to Arsenal, also has to settle for bench-warming duties in the Picks. With two goals during Liverpool’s pre-season, we are anticipating returns as he takes on a Gunners backline decimated by injury and international fixture fatigue.

Southampton’s kind home tie with Watford ensures Shane Long remains in our thinking. The Irishman, who scored in the Saints final pre-season clash against Athletic Bilbao, is expected to lead the line along with Nathan Redmond. With 10 goals last term, Long offers a strong alternative to Gray for those looking for a reliable 6.5-priced striker.

The Community Champion

The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher (we can currently only offer Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk vouchers) and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season.

This week’s champion is Frankie the Gent, who already has 10 FPL campaigns under his belt.

Community XI: Hart, Shaw, Valencia, Dann, Sanchez, Nolito, Oscar, Redmond, Vardy, Kane, Long.