Another season. Another Friday evening. Another dubious selection of players for the forthcoming gameweek. It’s good to be back….

With Ben Foster looking likely to be passed fit, he seems the obvious choice between the sticks in my first picks. United look odds on for a cleanie at home to newly promoted Birmingham and heavy investment in United’s defence looks a popular option. Subsequently, as I’m allowing myself three players from each team this season, I’ve gone for O’Shea in my defence too. He will start at right-back for United against Birmingham, with Vidic out, Evans doubtful and Brown set to start alongside Ferdinand. O’Shea isn’t under any threat for a starting role this week then, although Brown and Rafael (when fit) will be a factor in the gameweeks to come.

I was toying with Reina as an option in goal but Liverpool’s Glen Johnson gives me stronger attacking potential from Rafa’s defence so he takes the next spot in my back four. I see a tight game at White Hart Lane and I’m tipping a 1-0 away win. Insua looks certain to start at left-back and offers stronger value if you need to save pennies.

The Chelsea clean sheet is banked by the presence of Carvalho – a certain starter with Alex sidelined. Ancelotti’s side look a strong option for a shut-out in the early kick-off against Hull. Ivanovic is available if you again, need to save cash, although as I mentioned in the midweek meander, Bosingwa is still a threat to Ivanovic’s starting berth.

Finally, Stoke look a strong option for a clean sheet at home to Burnley, which makes the centre-back pairing of Faye and Shawcross attractive options. I’ve gone for the latter, with Shawcross perhaps carrying a bigger goal threat. Ryan Shotton presents a real budget option if he’s included in your game (he’s still not present in the FPL).

Moving into the midfield and, as indicated in the meander, Lampard picks himself and looks a very strong choice for FPL captain. I can easily see two or three goals at Stamford Bridge and Frank, at the point of the midfield diamond, will surely be amongst the attacking points, probably via a deflection.

I’ve gone for cheaper options around the Chelsea man, with Stoke’s Lawrence my first pick. He missed half of last season through injury but is fit and healthy going into this one. As a set-piece hogger, he will always offer value this term. At home to Burnley this week, we could see his potential early.

Villa’s Steve Sidwell is a gamble on my part, particularly with Petrov set to start at home to Wigan. I can see O’Neill giving Sidwell a start though and I can also see Wigan pushing the home side all the way. There’s three or four goals in this one for me, so Sidwell could figure with some points, having stood out in pre-season.

The final midfield spot goes to Everton’s Fellaini. Again, I see plenty of goals in the clash with Arsenal at Goodsion and with Pienaar a doubt, I can easily see Moyes opting to trouble the Gunners with some route one stuff. Fellaini’s presence up front with either Saha or Jo, looks set to cause Gallas and new signing Vermaelen, plenty of issues at the back.

Up front, I’m covering United’s goals against Birmingham with the presence of Rooney. Ferguson is looking to Rooney to step up after he departure of Ronaldo and this home game with Birmingham looks the perfect platform for the England man to demonstrate that he can do just that. Berbatov is of course, another strong option here.

I could have easily gone for Anelka or Drogba for the final spot in attack – both should be in the points against Hull but instead I’ve saved some cash for you and opted for Arsenal’s Bendtner. Yes I could have covered the Gunners attacking points with Arshavin and Van Persie, but their time in the Picks will come. For now, Bendtner offers me a decent pick as a value striker and looks certain to start with Walcott injured.

On my bench I’ve gone for Blackburn’s Warnock as my budget defender. He may not keep a cleanie at home to City, but if this fixture explodes with goals, then Warnock could figure with attacking points from his left midfield role. The Wolves pairing of Milijas and Ebanks-Blake complete my budget options. Both will be leading the threat against West Ham at Molineux and I fancy a few goals here.

Who else nearly made it? Well I’ve a gut feeling on Bolton’s Sean Davis which I didn’t folllow and team-mates Gardner and Taylor also look good options if you fancy a Bolton win against Sunderland. I can’t see too many goals in this one though. If you looking for another budget defender meanwhile, I see a likely 0-0 at Fratton Park, making Kaboul and Wilson worthy of consideration this week.