Rooney breaks his foot and your Fantasy Football lineup goes under the knife in the first week. There’s a void to fill, millions to spend but the Premiership’s midweek games provide the perfect source for those players to fill that Rooney-shaped gap in your side. Let’s look at the contenders…

On paper there doesn’t look like they’ll be many defensive points available. Clean sheets certainly look hard to come by. United’s trip to Portsmouth won’t be easy, with Pompey’s enjoying a decent record against the Champions in previous seasons. Edwin Van Der Sar and his defence remain a relatively decent option, with Patrice Evra the best the option while he is still being employed in a left midfield role.

The blue side of Manchester are the other good bet for defensive points against newly promoted Derby. It’s unclear how much attacking ambition that Billy Davies’ side will show but Kasper Schmeicalal could have a quiet night. He should remain in goal for City, unless of course Sven can flex the cheque book in the next 24 hours. Micah Richards and Richard Dunne are the best options however, offering a decent goal threat from set pieces. Bear in mind however, that City face Man United at the weekend, followed by a trips to Arsenal and Blackburn.

Chelsea’s defence looked far from secure against Birmingham, and is likely to be tested further by a Reading side no doubt keen to demonstrate their attacking prowess having stifled Man United with an exemplary defensive display on Sunday. Chelsea also visit Anfield at the weekend, so their expensive defenders look unappealing, at least until John Terry returns.

Birmingham and Sunderland defenders could well be involved in a game of few chances at St Andrews. It will be interesting to see how Roy Keane approaches the game having kept things tight against Tottenham. It’s a game he’d certainly look to win but away from home, Sunderland are likely to be modest in their attacking ambitions and try to nick another goal. There could be clean sheets then, with Birmingham’s Liam Ridgewell and Sunderland’s Paul McShane the most attractive options. After this game, it’s Birmingham that have kinder fixtures with Keane’s side meeting Liverpool and Man United in the next few weeks.

Elsewhere the likes of Paul Scharner and Andy Todd are worth considering due to the fact that their currently plying their trades in midfield for Wigan and Derby. There should be goals in the Wigan vs Middlesbrough clash which does make Scharner a useful signing having picked up an assist at Everton. Wigan follow this game with decent fixtures against Sunderland, West Ham and Newcastle.

In midfield the likes of Ronaldo, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda remain attractive. I still see Stewart Downing to be central to Boro’s chances at Wigan, while Arteta will be influential for Everton at Tottenham. Jason Koumas is perhaps the one to watch. He’ll be expected to come to the fore in Wigan’s first home game and Boro’s injury stricken defence seems likely to concede.

Elsewhere Shaun Wright-Phillips, Kevin Nolan and Man City’s Elano all showed form and earned points at the weekend, which suggests that they’ll be in the thick of things again in midweek. Elano could play just behind the lone striker against Derby, which could be profitable. Martin Petrov is the other City player worth a look. He’ll be central to City’s set plays and should be zipping in the crosses against Derby’s backline.

If you’re on a budget the Fulham’s Simon Davies gets my vote. Fulham follow the game against Bolton with another home game against Middlesbrough at the weekend and then games against Villa and Tottenham. A pretty decent run.

Up front we have Carlos Tevez making his full debut at Portsmouth of course. The game will be a stern test of the Argentine’s fitness and although he seems the obvious Rooney-replacement, it may just be too early for him to play a significant contribution however, so I expect a tepid first couple of games for Tevez with City the opponents at the weekend.

In contrast, the renewed fitness of Didier Drogba is hard to ignore, particularly if Chelsea concede and are forced to chase goals as was the case on Sunday. Drogba could well be the best home for your newly discovered millions. Then again…

Dimitar Berbatov looked out of sorts at Sunderland but he’s a different animal at White Hart Lane. Martin Jol is expected to give Darren Bent a debut alongside him and I expect these two to be in the points with Robbie Keane pulling the creative strings behind them. With Derby at home next, I’m predicting Berbatov to remind us of his class over the next two matches but a visit to Old Trafford at the end of the month might be enough to warrant caution before drafting him in.

Rolando Bianchi could profit from City’s confidence and Derby’s Premiership inexperience. However its Nicolas Anelka and Yakubu that are my picks for these games. Bolton will look to bounce back against Fulham after a first-half hiding at the hands of Newcastle, while Yakubu will want to remind several Premiership bosses of his goalscoring talents. A Wigan defence could well provide the assistance he needs to do just that. Watch the transfer news though, if Boro agree a deal for Mido, Yakubu could well be on his way and out of the midweek game.

Bolton follow this game with fixtures against Portsmouth, Reading and Everton a pretty decent run that could prove profitable for Anelka and Kevin Nolan. Yakubu meanwhile should also flourish while he remains at Boro with games against Fulham, Newcastle and Birmingham in the next three outings.

If you’re looking for a cheaper option then Mikael Forssell of Birmingham and David Healy at Fulham are your best two options. Both face home games against and will fancy their chances of adding to their goal hauls, having got off the mark at the weekend. Both also face home games at the weekend and fairly decent fixtures after that, making them budget buys that can see you right through until next month. If you’re willing to spend a little more then Birmingham’s McSheffrey perhaps offers the chance of an even better return given his role in Birmingham’s set plays and general attacking play, particularly whilst being employed up front by Bruce.