“Essential” is a big word in Fantasy Football. Invariably, the minute you go throwing it in the direction of player, circumstances twist to render such claims as pure folly. Having lauded Nani an indispensable member of any squad, Alex Ferguson opted to rest the season’s leading Fantasy points scorer in today’s 4-2 win at West Ham. To compound matters, Wayne Rooney emerged from his first-half shell to fire a superb hat-trick. It may just force a rethink.

Nani has, for so long, provided incredibly effective cover for United’s attacking returns. His 9 goals and 16 assists speak for themselves and looked to have locked him into our squads for the duration.

His importance has of course been boosted by an inconsistent Rooney. While Nani has contributed no less than 7 double figure returns in the Fantasy Premier League game, Rooney had mustered 4 in response before today. Five goals in his last 7 league starts had signposted today’s handsome haul, but with Nani firmly planted in our lineups, many Fantasy Managers will have been content to go into the gameweek without Rooney against a West Ham defence that had conceded just a single goal in their last three matches. Today’s events have changed all that.

Suddenly we will be fidgeting on Nani. Today’s decision to bench the Portuguese trickster was surely influenced by Wednesday’s Champions League date with Chelsea, but Antonio Valencia’s assured and effective return to the starting lineup is a worry. Ferguson is a huge fan of the former Wigan winger and his faith in him was rewarded by a showing that provided an assist and more crosses than any other player in the league today.

Park Ji-Sung is another player admired by Ferguson and his return to fitness, along with Ryan Giggs’ evergreen performance, highlights that the United boss now has the resources to shuffle and rest Nani at a whim.

Wayne Rooney’s points haul will inevitably raise his profile at a time when most Fantasy Managers either own or covet Robin Van Persie. With Frank Lampard and an Arsenal midfielder looking strong temptations ahead of gameweek 33 double fixtures, funds for Rooney look scarce.

The inclusion of both Nani and Rooney may also seem like overkill – United had scored 3 goals in 3 league games before today – do they warrant such heavy attacking investment with fixtures falling kindly for Chelsea and Arsenal?

Rooney will have to be considered – tinkering will be done and a route to acquire him will surely be planned by many. Plenty will be pondering the merits of Nani as a result. Unthinkable before today.

It highlights that we can take nothing for granted. Plans have to be fluid – as agile as Nani’s own twinkling feet. Ferguson and Rooney may have ripped up our established thinking and we have to be open to change. That much is “essential”.