Delivered on a speeding train on the way back to the UK, the Scout Picks for the weekend fixtures are now live. We apologise for the delay – there were the wrong kind of leaves on the tracks. Read on for further passenger information…

The fixture list certainly isn’t our friend this weekend. With United facing Everton and Chelsea at Liverpool, the fantasy options are restricted and finding clean sheets and goals becomes that tad more tricky.

Schwarzer claims the goalkeeping jersey – with Fulham at home to a Portsmouth side that has struggled badly of late. Fulham will want desperately to keep things tight following a pair of disappointing performances. Defensive points may well be back on the menu for Fulham and Schwarzer and his defence looks good value.

In front of him, Vidic is essential, even when United face tough opposition. Everton will put up a fight at Old Trafford but with Cahill and Fellaini both doubts, two of their key weapons could be blunted. United look good for yet another clean sheet and Vidic is the man to back. Look to O’Shea if you need a short-term bargain.

The Arsenal defence isn’t often worthy of investment but in a week where clean sheets look thin on the ground, they look worth a punt. Gallas offers some goal threat, while Djourou should start and is your bargain option.

The same could be said of Villa’s defence – robbed of the steadying Laursen, they look vulnerable against an in-form Wigan. I see the clash at Villa Park as a tight affair however, which Villa should edge by a narrow margin (again). Wigan are still adjusting to life without Heskey and Valencia is missing again to add that little bit of creative genius out wide. O’Neill’s defence could hold out then with Davies, Knight and Luke Young offering value. I’ll go for Davies though for his FPL bonus potential.

The final spot in the defence goes to an old favourite this season – Hull’s Michael Turner has had a rough time of late. The Tigers defence has been fragile and backing them, even against a shot-shy Baggies side on the road, is a gamble. Hull have looked to tighten things of late though, plus Turner will be a major threat from set-plays against a West Brom rearguard that has serious centre-back problems. I expect Turner to dominate the aerial duels at set-pieces and another league goal could come from it.

United”s tussle with Everton will be far from easy and Moyes’ side will come and defend stubbornly. It’s difficult to turn your back on Ronaldo though – particularly after his two goals at the Hawthorns in midweek.

Lampard vs Gerrard is a far tougher decision. Gerrard will likely play up behind Torres once again and will be in thick of it. Whether you back him over Lampard comes down to whether you’re backing Liverpool over Chelsea. Personally, I can see Chelsea nicking the game and Lampard’s ability at set-plays or even the penalty spot, could be key.

There’s a whole host of City players worth consideration for their trip to Stoke. I can’t see this being an easy game by any means for Hughes’ side and I see a few goals at both ends. Stoke have problems at full-back with Wilkinson suspended and Higginbotham struggling with an injury. That should give Wright-Phillips and Robinho some joy out wide. Bellamy will also be a major threat with his pace and it’s the pace of the City attack that I see being key. I reckon Stoke will defend deep and City’s goals may have to come from midfield. Ireland is ready-made to capitalise and so he keeps his place in the pcks. Any of City’s attacking options look strong though.

With Turner in my defence, I’m clearly backing Hull against the injury strewn West Brom, although I see the Hull clean sheet as very fragile. It’s Turner’s threat at set-pieces I’m more interested in and I actually see West Brom, with Jay Simpson in particular, being a handful for them. I’m backing the loanee from Arsenal to get off the mark in the league this weekend.

Up front Van Persie is the easiest pick I make this week. Along with Berbatov, he has the form to bring in the points but unlike the United man, he comes up against a back four which could afford him a little time and space to do some damage. Wenger will be looking for a comfortable home win against West Ham and for Van Persie to do the damage again.

The second striker spot is up for grabs with the aforementioned Robinho and Bellamy looking excellent prospects. I’m wary of putting too many eggs in the Man City basket and will instead stick with Agbonlahor who is surely due to break this run of games without a goal sometime soon. Wigan will provide tough resistance but I can see a few goals at either end in that one, with overdue profits arriving for Gabby.

There aren’t too many attractive alternatives at the back to consider. I’ve gone for Hull’s Mendy on my bench, in hope that he’ll regain his starting role and perhaps chip in with an assists against a fragile West Brom defence. Elsewhere, the Boro vs Blackburn affair could well bring clean sheets all-round making the likes of Wheater, Samba and Emerton (for the last time now that Diouf has arrived at Ewood) worthy of some attention. Then there’s alway’s Bolton’s Cahill to consider if you feel that Spurs will struggle for goals a the Reebok – and if the Defoe injury claims are true, then that could easily be the case.

In midfield, Sunderland’s Richardson – who loves playing and scoring against Newcastle, gets my vote for the bench. Bullard should get his debut for Phil Brown’s side and he will surely be keen to impress and buzzing about the Baggies box all game. Look for Bullard to supply from set-plays, while FPL bonus in a Hull win looks on the cards. There are other notable options I’ve got my eye on this week, including Fulham’s Simon Davies (don’t ask me why) and Taylor for Bolton..

Up front I’ve kept faith with Fuller who should start for Stoke and, along with Beattie, cause some major problems for the Dunne-less City defence. McCarthy has form for Blackburn, while I reckon Fulham’s Johnson could have a good day against Distin and Kaboul with Pompey due to turn up with a 4-4-2.