As the clock ticks down on this evening’s Gameweek 24 deadline, we roll out the Scout Picks for your perusal once again. United, Everton and Sunderland all chip in with a couple of players ahead of their respective home fixtures as we return to league matters after the weekend’s FA Cup interruption:
Simon Mignolet gets the nod for Sunderland’s home clash with Swansea this evening. The Black Cats stopper has registered four clean sheets in his last six at the Stadium of Light and with Michael Laudrup’s side scoring in just one of their previous four on the road, the chance of defensive returns looks prosperous for the second top scoring keeper in Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
Leighton Baines is back in the mix as Everton welcome West Brom to Goodison. Back-to-back clean sheets highlight the Toffees’ current defensive form and with set-pieces also boosting his appeal, the left-back has racked up 22 points in the last three Gameweeks . Baines’ owners will be in confident mood against an out-of-sorts Baggies side with a single point in their last four.
We welcome Robert Huth into the Scout Picks ahead of Stoke’s home clash with Wigan. Although they’ve managed just one clean sheet in six, Tony Pulis’ side will be optimistic of returning to resilient defensive ways against a Latics side that have scored just 10 goals on their travels all season. While the big German has yet to produce attacking returns this term, he’s offered a greater goal threat than Ryan Shawcross in the Potters’ backline – Andy Wilkinson is your budget alternative at 4.4.
Patrice Evra’s attacking displays make the United left-back impossible to overlook. The Frenchman’s security of game time earns him the nod over fellow full-back Rafael and, as Southampton make their way to Old Trafford, Evra will be looking to extend the stunning form that has harvested a goal, a pair of assists, a clean sheet and five bonus points in his last three home matches.
Handed just 45 minutes in Sunday’s FA Cup draw at Brentford, Juan Mata is set to return to the Chelsea starting line-up tomorrow evening as the Blues make their way to Reading. With attacking returns in 13 of his last 15 league starts, the current top scoring FPL midfielder could be primed for points once again as Rafa Benitez looks to engineer a fifth straight league win on the road.
Similar to Mata, Theo Walcott has afforded Fantasy managers a consistent source of points over the last few months. The Arsenal man has scored or assisted in nine of his last 11 matches – regardless of whether he plays up top or on the wing, Walcott’s eye for goal continues to produce. Three sets of double figures in his last five home starts are indicative of his Emirates form as Liverpool make their way to north London tomorrow evening.
Unlike our previous pair, Gareth Bale has stuttered in recent matches. The Spurs winger has produced in just one of his last six but an average of 6.2 points per game is bettered only by Mata and Walcott for midfielders. With four of his five sets of double figures produced on the road, however, a trip to Carrow Road could reignite his charge up the Fantasy standings – Norwich have just one clean sheet in their last 11 Gameweeks.
With a single assist in his last five, Marouane Fellaini is another midfield option who has faltered of late. The Everton man has been shifted into a deeper central midfield role in the past couple of matches but with Nikica Jelavic misfiring up front, we reckon David Moyes could move the giant Belgian back to his regular support role at Goodison as he looks to take advantage of a West Brom defence that has conceded at least twice in five of their last six on the road.
Runaway leader in this week’s Captain Poll with 64% of the votes cast so far, Robin Van Persie will be looking to replicate his Gameweek 3 hat-trick against Southampton at Old Trafford tomorrow evening. Rested for the FA Cup win over Fulham last Saturday, the Dutchman will be raring to go once again as he looks to extend his lead at the top of the FPL standings.
Steven Fletcher’s return to form has been instrumental in Sunderland’s recent rise up the table. The Scot has scored or assisted in five of his last eight and, coming in at 7.1 in FPL, is a strong mid-price option against a Swansea side with a single clean sheet in their last four.
Having started each of the last four for City, Edin Dzeko looks a good bet to continue in the starting line-up for this evening’s trip to QPR. Dzeko has scored or assisted in each of those games and will carry strong form into the Loftus Road encounter – Harry Redknapp has registered just a single clean sheet at home since taking over the reins and seems up against it as the visitors look for a fifth straight win.
Brede Hangeland makes the bench as Fulham prepare for the visit of West Ham. The big centre-half has disappointed as a Fantasy prospect this term but his threat in the opposition box, allied with the Hammers’ record of six away goals all season, boosts the 4.8 priced defender’s appeal ahead of tomorrow’s clash at the Cottage.
We’re going to ignore Jon Walters’ previous home display and offer the Stoke midfielder the chance of redemption as Wigan roll up to the Britannia. As Tony Pulis looks to put a wretched run of results behind him, he’ll be looking to Walters to bring the goal threat which harvested a 15 point return in the Potters’ last home win – the visitors’ recent record of eight goals against in their last three sums up their defensive frailties right now.
Christian Benteke is our final bench-warmer. If Villa are to get anything from their home game with Newcastle tonight, the Belgian is almost certain to play a part – he has scored or assisted six of their last seven goals from Gameweek 16 onwards and is up against a Magpies side with a single clean sheet on the road all season.
