After a week of international football tedium, it’s good to be wrapped up in clean sheets, pondering assists and speculating over dodgy FPL bonus points again. It’s time to embark on another fantasy football gameweek and on Friday evening in this corner of the internet, that means it’s time for my Scout Picks.

You’ll find the graphic in your right-hand menu has been updated with my selection. Grab the podcast and the meaner to familiarise yourself on my early views on this weekend’s fixtures. Read on for the twisted logic behind the picks…

As mentioned in the midweek meander, I’m putting my money on Arsenal, Everton and West Ham as the leading candidates for clean sheet gathering. I’ve opted for Almunia in goal then, partly because I’m slightly worried that Wenger could use Djourou to rest either Toure or Gallas for the Champions League in midweek. I can’t imagine that the Arsenal keeper will have a lot to do, so don’t expect save points. He does however, look a strong bet for shut-out given Arsenal’s defensive form and City’s impotency away from Eastlands.

The Everton defence is represented by “Bargain Baines” – a player who has established himself as a must in both the Goodison lineup and our fantasy sides. Baines will be up against his former club and that could well lift his performance further. Expect decent set-piece delivery and a goal threat from direct free-kicks. Lescott is your other option here if you’ve the cash.

West Ham look a good option at home to shot-shy Sunderland and Upson is back from injury to lead the defence. He is the FPL bonus magnet in the Hammers rearguard and could come away with a decent haul if he can shackle Jones and Cisse.

The United defence have conceded in their last four league games but, against a Villa side that have slumped miserably in recent weeks, you have to fancy Ferguson’s defence to cope comfortably. Evans is assured of a start with Vidic suspended and he represents the best short-term value in the United backline.

The final spot in the defence is a gamble but as mentioned in the meander, I see Bolton as the budget defensive option this week. Clean sheets have been as rare as a Gary Megson autograph request at the Reebok but at least in Gardner you have the opportunity for points at the other end, given that he is likely to line up in the Bolton midfield.

The midfield is a shamelessly predictable selection this month with the “Tri-force” or “holy trinity” coming together. Ronaldo looks the pick of the three fantasy heavyweights this week, with a home fixture against hapless Villa, in which he’s likely to be employed in a central attacking role given the absence of Rooney and Berbatov.

Gerrard goes to Fulham off the back of his biggest fantasy points haul of the season and, while I can’t imagine he’ll find as much freedom as he enjoyed at Anfield against Villa, I still see him (along with Torres) being the key component in a Liverpool win against Fulham at the Cottage.

That leaves Lampard, who looks the least attractive of the three this week, given Chelsea’s current shortage of goals. Drogba’s absence will upset Chelsea’s flow but that could see Lampard step up and provide the end product against a Newcastle side that seems likely to push Chelsea into scoring at least a couple of goals if they are to prevail.

I’ve kept faith with Matt Taylor for the final spot in the middle of the park – he has the form and fixture this week to extend his fine run which has seen him notch 3 goals and 2 assists in his last 8 league games. Boro have conceded 11 goals in their last 5 away games and will surely ship again at the Reebok – Taylor’s threat from range and service from set plays could well see him contribute.

In the midweek-ish meander I indicated that I fancied goals in Hull vs Portsmouth and Blackburn vs Spurs games and that’s reflected in my picks up front. I’ve gone for the form players in Portsmouth’s Crouch and Tottenham’s Keane – both away from home but both with significant goal threat against suspect defences.

Looking to the bench and moving back to the defensive options, I’ve gone for Hull’s Mendy again with his attacking potential on the right of midfield for Hull in that clash with Pompey. Stoke’s Shawcross is the other attractive budget option here – I see West Brom scoring at the Hawthorns but Shawcross will be a menance at set plays. Only a slight doubt over his fitness prevents him from pushing for a place in the picks itself.

Moving into midfield and the likes of Modric, Lennon, Kranjcar, Jay Simpson and Geovanni all promise profits this week, while Everton’s Cahill was very close to displacing Taylor in the picks. There’s just an outside chance that Moyes will start him on the bench or sub him early against Wigan, given the fact he only arrived back from international duty in Australia on Friday. I’ve gone for West Ham’s Mark Noble on my picks bench though – an outside bet but I just see him stepping up his game in the absence of Cole’s goal threat. The Hammers might need set plays or a spot kick to get past Sunderland in a tight game. Noble will be a factor if that’s the case.

Up front I’ve opted for Stoke’s Beattie who could well be the latest striker to profit from the charitable Baggies defence. Portsmouth’s Nugent, Bolton’s Davies, Blackburn’s Roberts and Everton’s Jo offer decent low-to-mid price options. Tevez will carry the can for United in the absence of Berbatov and Rooney and is worth a look as a short-term differential. Arshavin is the other major and expensive temptation but I just fancy City to provide a wall of sky blue at the Emirates, while Arsenal have scored just 5 goals in their last 5 at home in the league.