Stephane Sessegnon may have only just hit the 100 point mark in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game but there are signs he could emerge as a bona fide prospect as Sunderland prepare for a favourable run of opponents in the short-term.
After his heroics in double Gameweek 16, when his last minute goal against Reading provided a much needed fillip to those that handed him the armband, he already has legend status for many. For most of the season, though, he has been largely ignored. Owned by just 1.4% of FPL players, his price has plummeted from 8.0 to 6.9, while a cost of 7.7 in the Sky Sports game has persuaded just 1.1% to take the plunge.
It’s understandable. Sessegnon has been part of an uninspiring Sunderland attack this season, limited, in the main, to the goals supplied by Steven Fletcher. However, there are signs that this situation could change. Gameweek 27’s defeat away to West Brom saw the Benin international deployed on the right – he proved a constant menace in this new role; so often the most advanced Sunderland player, his efforts were rewarded with a goal in the 78th minute.
Martin O Neil made the switch to incorporate new forward Danny Graham in a two-pronged attack alongside Fletcher, with Sessegnon, Adam Johnson or James McClean helping out from the flanks. Of this trio of wide options, Sessegnon looks the most assured of starts – certainly, it seems to be a position the player relishes.
“When you’re playing out wide, you have more of the chance to run with the ball and you have a bit more space in which to operate. It’s somewhere where I haven’t played regularly for a while, but I’m happy to stay there if the manager wants. He’s the one who picks the team.”
O’Neil, who singled Sessegnon out for praise following his display at the Hawthorns, has recently expressed his admiration for the player, berating his lack of goals.
“This lad, for the ability he possesses, should score double figures in a season. Into the penalty area, he’s beating players and he should do better. He should finish them off, he really should for that ability because he can be mesmeric. When he dummies inside to come in, coming across the box, he should just drop the shoulder come inside and have the shot. He does it in training sessions time and time again. That’s what I think. He scores in training. It’s frustrating because this boy could be priceless if he could do that part of the game. I always feel that when he gets it wide, of course he’ll get a bit tired towards the end of the match and he’ll lay one or two off and I don’t mind. It’s when he’s got that bit of space and there’s miles to go and I’m talking 30 yards outside the penalty area, maybe even less, but when he’s taking players on I always fancy him to beat them.”
As last season demonstrated, Sessegnon does have the potential to be a lethal source of goals and points. During the 2011/12 campaign he scored seven times and notched up 12 assists to finish the season in the FPL game on 161 points. So far this term he has a long way to go to reach those heights, with just four goals and assists apiece, but those willing to take chance on Sessegnon could be handsomely rewarded – rekindling those memories of Gameweek 16.
The short term fixture list (FUL, qpr, NOR) looks an ideal time for Fantasy managers to take a chance. Even though the schedule takes a tumble from Gameweek 31, it does improve markedly from Gameweek 35 onwards (avl, STO, SOU, tot) and makes Sessegnon a real alternative to Fletcher as a route into O’Neill’s attack. At such a price, he could well appeal to those looking to freshen up their five-man midfields with a differential.
