As you will have read in countless reports this morning, Manchester City defender Kolo Toure has been suspended after testing positive for a ‘specified substance.’
It is believed that the test results were taken from the Manchester derby at Old Trafford last month. The Ivorian international has the chance to request a another sample he gave at the same time is tested. Depending on the outcome, Toure could face a maximum of two years out of the game.
The former City captain, who has cemented himself as the first choice central defensive partner alongside Vinent Kompany, looks set for a lengthy spell out of the first team. In Fantasy Premier League (FPL) terms this thrusts Joleon Lescott into the limelight. The former Fantasy favourite is likely to become a regular starter for Roberto Mancini’s side.
Toure holds 10.5% FPL ownership and his immediate ban looks set to cause many a headache, with the deadline fast approaching. A simple option for Toure-owning Fantasy Managers to consider is a straight swap for forgotten man Lescott. Since his big money move to City in 2009 he has had to settle for a bit part role, with the form of Kompany and Toure keeping him out of the starting XI. Priced 6.3 in the FPL game, Lescott is valued just 0.1 less than Toure.
Whilst at Everton Lescott was practically an FPL institution, in the 2007/2008 year alone he notched up a mammoth 196 points, quite a feat for a defender. Lescott offers a serious aerial threat, often finding the back of the net in his days at Goodison Park. The Lescott of yore was also very capable of catching the attention of the FPL bonus points judges, in the 2006/2007 season he fetched 27.
Of course a lack of match time and a change of scenery may have hampered Lescott’s potential slightly – he is no longer a big fish in a small pond at City. But with many Fantasy Managers finding a Toure-shaped whole in their teams, he may just be the perfect fit.
