So Patrice Evra faces a four match ban after a set-to with the Chelsea groundsman in the warm-down after last season’s Stamford Bridge clash.

While I’m all for protecting the Premiership’s unsung heroes, the punishment does seem more than a little harsh to say the least. United are currently considering an appeal but right now, the ban stands. The question for fantasy managers is what, if anything, can be gained from Evra’s absence?

The United man is set to miss the Premiership trip to Stoke and the home game with Boro. After that it’s the FA Cup tie with Southampton but, thanks again to the Carling Cup, he will be eligible for the crucial Premiership clash with Chelsea on January 11. Instead, Evra will miss United’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg in the week of January 5th. In short, the ban only affects Evra for a couple of Premiership games.

Straight away then, it’s clear that the benefits to fantasy managers are halved. Owners of Evra will obviously have to consider switching him out once the ban kicks in after December 22nd but the rest of us have little need to get too excited over the options this presents.

John O’Shea is likely to come into the United lineup at left back to replace Evra. Ferguson has few options in this area having released Silvestre. Evans and the young Fabio do give him some choice but O’Shea is clearly in the box seat and is likely to see four starts, pending the appeal.

As a fantasy replacement, O’Shea does have some plus points. At 5.3 in the FPL game, he brings some short-term potential for a saving. The benefits are so short-term though, its highly questionable whether its worth non-Evra owners attempting to cash in on this ban by turning to the Irishman.

The two Premiership fixtures against Stoke and Boro could easily offer clean sheets, so there is some logic of making the move for O’Shea. However, with Liverpool facing Bolton and Newcastle, and Chelsea playing West Brom and Fulham – it’s difficult to see many cashing in expensive defenders for the United man.

Instead O’Shea looks a worthy signing as a short-term replacement for a mid-price defender in your side – a Wheater or Johnson perhaps. Or an upgrade from a budget defender such as Luke Young or Belhadj.

Evra’s ban is harsh – that’s for sure. But there’s little to get too excited about in fantasy terms. Just keep O’Shea on your radar for gameweeks 19 and 20.