West Ham’s Julien Faubert and Fulham’s Jimmy Bullard returned from long-term injuries to turn out for their respective reserve sides tonight.

Faubert played 45-minutes for West Ham against Villa and scored within the first 60-seconds of the match. The french midfielder has been missing all season after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in July. He is now likely to step up his return with a further reserve appearance before coming into the reckoning for first-team action against City on January 19.

Fulham’s Bullard is another player close to a return. The midfielder played a full 90-minutes in Fulham’s reserve 2-0 win over Arsenal. He’s been sidelined for most of last season and all of this so far with a cruciate knee injury. He could be on the bench for the Cottagers clash with West Ham, with a full return against Arsenal first choice eleven penciled in for January 19.

Both can be classed as mid-price midfield options and offer some potential. Faubert can be deployed as a defensive player but his pace and power could also provide an attacking catalyst down West Ham’s right-hand side. Bullard meanwhile hit two goals in his four games last season. He is central to Fulham’s set pieces and is likely to be integral to Hodgson’s plans on his return.

Faubert is currently available for 6.9 million in the Fantasy Premier League game with Bullard available for 6.3.million. Both are priced at 3.6 million in the Fantasy League games.