I’ve just landed back in Blighty and back in the land of the internet living, so here’s the belated scout picks for this weekend. Apologies for lack of updates and team news today – circumstances beyond my control and all that. I’ll endevour to bring you fresh team news tomorrow morning via the pre-match preamble.

As usual the midweek meander may offer some improved insight into the reasoning behind this selection – so take a gander at that for a summary of where and why I think the goals and clean sheets will come…

Okay, for starters I’ve opted for Schwarzer. Fulham have City at the Cottage, a side well capable of scoring goals but Hughes’ side have not convinced away from Eastlands, while Fulham’s defensive performances have been strong of late. Schwarzer has a fair chance of the clean sheet then, and should also contribute plenty of saves should City present a threat.

The back four consists of three strong selections, with Newcastle’s Bassong brought in as a budget option and to climb on to the defensive form of Kinnear’s men. They face a Stoke side who haven’t scored an away goal in ther last five trips. Bassong has been a real find for Newcastle in the last few games and he offers excellent value this gameweek.

Bosingwa and Carragher keep their places as the most reliable sources from the Chelsea and Liverpool backline. I’m opted for Carragher over Agger after being burnt by Rafa on Monday when he left the Dane on the bench. Vidic completes the back four as United face a struggling Sunderland side that will surely fail to make an impression on the home defence at Old Trafford.

In midfield I’m getting bored of selecting Lampard and Ronaldo but this week finds the United man in a potential goal-fest against Sunderland, while Lampard is away from home; where Chelsea work best. Bolton will provide strong resistance for Scolari’s men – a factor which was almost enough for me to turn my back on Frank. I thought better of it though.

As an antidote to the predictable twosome, I’ve taken a risk with the other two places (well one of them at least) and gone for Geovanni of Hull and Greening of West Brom – yes, you read it right.

Geovanni has good form and will fancy causing Boro plenty of problems. I’m wary of Boro raining on my parade again but just about willing to take the risk here. As for Greening, I’ve just got an inkling with this one and decided to back it. He played in an advanced role for the Baggies at Wigan and looked effective, denied a goal only by Kirkland’s heroics. He is set to start there again against a Pompey side who have been conceding and I just feel that the Baggies are overdue some reward for the football they play. It could come this weekend, in which case, Greening is a good bet for FPL bonus at the very least.

Up front, it’s no real surprise that I’ve gone with Van Persie. He’ll be shooting on sight against Wigan having claimed two well-taken goals at Stamford Bridge. With Bendtner starting in the Carling Cup in midweek, there’s little danger of him being rested and he and Adeabayor should profit from a game that I’m hoping will see two or three goals from the home side.

I’ve taken a risk with his partner and gone with West Ham’s Bellamy. He looked sharp at Anfield on Monday and I see goals in the game at Upton Park. Having hit the post and bar in recent weeks, Bellamy’s luck has to change soon and he’ll be sure to be the main threat to Gomes in the Spurs goal. Bent could be a good option in the same game if like me, you see goals for both sides here.

There are some decent alternatives around across the pitch. Laursen is, as always a strong contender at the back and the Everton vs Villa encounter looks a very tight one. You’ve also got the Hull defence of course – of which Turner is the leading candidate. Boro have a habit of spoiling the party and the home clean sheet though, so be warned.

In midfield, Portsmouth’s Kranjcar looks a strong option over the weeks to come. I’m not convinced that Portsmouth will hit too many goals at West Brom however. I’ve stuck my neck out and backed the Baggies, so I’m leaving Kranjcar on the bench for this week – a great option though. The Everton vs Villa game will likely see two 4-5-1 formations go head-to-head and out of that it will likely be Barry and Cahill who profit if you’re expecting goals. Worth consideration, although I can easily see a 1-1 or even a 0-0 here.

Up front, I’ve avoided United, despite the likely goal glut because Tevez’s goals in midweek has cast doubt over Ferguson’s selection. Looking elsewhere there are a few possibilities in the budget bracket. Everton’s Anichebe is a good punt up front with Saha out of the Villa game, West Brom’s Miller also offers good value in a game that could see goals for the Baggies as I’ve mentioned. Then there’s Hull’s Marlon King who should profit if Phil Brown’s side can find home form. If you’re looking for something higher up the price brackets then Johnson of Fulham should fancy his chances against the City defence, although personally, I don’t see many goals in this game.

I’m not even going to bother you with my thoughts on the FPL captain situation right now. If you have Ronaldo and you think he’ll start against Sunderland, which he surely will, then he has to be your captain in a game which should see a convincing win for United over a Sunderland side without a manager.