I’ve spent my Christmas day puzzling over this when I could have been watching Escape to Victory for the 53rd time. The Boxing Day selection has certainly proved a troublesome one. I could have flouted my strict code of practice when it comes to players from the same club and made it easier, but I’ve decided to keep things mildly interesting instead.

While I’m trying to remain optimistic but for some reason I’m seeing few clean sheets and limited returns for strikers. I’m still trying to work that one out but I think I’ve had too many Quality Street to get my brain fully wrapped around it. Maybe yesterday’s meander will help you solve that one, along with the weekend preview in this week’s podcast.

If you’ve already gobbled that lot up, then read on for the twisted logic behind my post Chrimbo eleven…

I’ve gone for this season’s FPL budget darling in goal – Fulham’s Schwarzer has reaped in the points away from home and Hodgson’s side travel to a Spurs outfit that have struggled to notch goals at White Hart Lane. The Fulham defence will surely come under pressure but that should see Schwarzer rack up some points from saves in the Guardian and FPL games at the very least.

In defence it almost goes without saying that Bosingwa holds his place. He faces a West Brom side who will surely struggle to make an impression on the Chelsea goal, even with Terry suspended and Cech a doubt. Similarly Vidic looks irresistible away at Stoke. The home side will threaten United with their own brand of football but Vidic has the equipment to stand up to it. If Ferguson’s men come back with the clean sheet I’m expecting, then Vidic could also return some FPL bonus and plenty of defensive points in the Guardian.

I’ve gambled slightly on the Liverpool defence for the third spot. They will be tested against Bolton who have a decent away record of late. A cleanie for Rafa’s side is by no means guaranteed but in a week where shut-outs look scarce, they still offer a fairly decent option. I’ve gone for a cheaper option though, in order to hedge my bets slightly. Hyypia is likely to start against the aerial threat of Megson’s side and he could offer a decent target at set-pieces at the other end, whilst earning plenty of Guardian points from headed clearances.

I’ve backed the Wigan defence for the final spot – another risk but then Ryan Taylor will likely be deployed on the left of midfield and has the voodoo sign over Newcastle having scored in the last two against them. His set-pieces will also be a threat to Kinnear’s men in what could well be another tight game.

Moving to midfield and with Ronaldo at Stoke and Lampard facing West Brom, this isn’t a gameweek to turn your back on the big two. I keep holding out for significant returns from the pair, and they will hopefully turn up for Christmas.

I can see goals at Eastlands where Phil Brown’s Hull will likely send his side out for the win as per usual. The City defence is there to be shot at and I can see the sides sharing a high scoring draw. The return of Robinho for City should allow Ireland to shift to his more familiar central role and his attacking runs could be key and bring some dividends. He scored twice against Hull at the KC and he could well repeat those goalscoring feats again on Boxing Day.

However, the news that Dawson is unlikely to return in this one, meaning that McShane could shift to left-back as a result, has convinced me to turn to Wright-Phillips. He has looked the most likely for City in recent weeks, without gaining fantasy returns but if he does face a makeshift left-back, he will surely be a key figure and could bring in some points at last.

I’ve gambled with the final midfield slot and gone for an Everton player. Moyes will likely be without a striker again at the Riverside and that will mean that Cahill will play in the striking role, with Fellaini providing further support from midfield. Although Cahill is the obvious pick, I’ve gone with afro aerial threat of Fellaini who appeared to be Everton’s main weapon against Chelsea on Monday night. I can’t see many goals in this one and Moyes is likely to keep it tight but I can just see his side nicking it with their strong away form, with Fellaini possibly amongst the points.

Selecting two strikers has proved immensely difficult this week. I could turn my back on my “two players per club” rule and go for Anelka or Rooney up front, but instead I’ve tried to keep things more interesting and go with a couple of outside bets. Both are playing away from home but do at least feature in games that I feel will include more than a few goals.

Hull’s Marlon King, along with Geovanni, will be the main threat to the City goal and as I can easily see Phil Brown’s side notching a couple in this one, I wouldn’t be surprised to see King come back with some points. I’m just hoping he took it easy with the Christmas celebrations – I can’t quite see Marlon tucked up with a mince pie in front of the Vicar of Dibley tonight for some reason.

Alongside King I’ve put faith in the Allardyce revolution and opted for Blackburn’s McCarthy. He should have the confidence to cause Sunderland problems, he’s on spot-kicks and I can just see Big Sam getting one over on Ricky Sbragia in this one, handing McCarthy the opportunity to add to his two goals against Stoke.

On the bench I’ve given you a couple of budget options and hedged my bets with a strong reserve striker. Defensively I’ve gone for Baines of Everton who should start at left back at Boro in the absence of Yobo. Mendy is also worth a look if you don’t have your quota of Hull players. It does seem that Mendy will again be at right-back rather than in midfield though, with McShane shifting to the left – Mendy’s potential looks reduced then.

For a midfield alternative I’ve gone for Arsenal’s Diaby who looks a certain starter, perhaps in an increased licence to get forward with Fabregas out. He could even be pushed up as a striker if Wenger turns his back on Bendtner. I can see things being tight at Villa Park however.

Other midfield options that are worth consideration include Malbranque at home to Blackburn of course, likewise Richardson looked sharp for the Black Cats last week and could be a key figure again. Valencia has form for Wigan but will come up against a tight Newcastle defence at the JJB. Similarly, Tottenham’s Lennon and Modric are likely to be their chief attacking threats against the strong Fulham backline. Gerrard could also be in for another high scoring week if Bolton can breach the Liverpool defence and force their skipper to drag them to three points, as he almost did against Hull a fortnight ago.

Up front, as I’ve mentioned, I found it difficult this week without considering United and Chelsea. Keane was tempting but the outside chance that Torres will return rules that one out. Elsewhere, Agbonlhaor, may well be starved of chances if O’Neill looks to keep things tight against Arsenal. The Portsmouth duo of Crouch and Defoe meanwhile, come up against the Hammers defence that has faired well on the road. I’m hoping for a change of fortunes for Defoe, another blank and he’ll be sold on from my FPL lineup.

Owen and Zaki at the JJB and Cisse and Jones for Sunderland against Blackburn all offer fairly strong alternatives to my selection. Van Persie is also worth a look if Villa are without both Laursen and Cuellar. Arsenal are weakened themselves but I can’t quite see Villa keeping Wenger’s men out if they are forced to shuffle their entire rearguard. Overall though, I really can’t see this being a big gameweek for strikers.