Andre Schurrle nets a hat-trick as Mesut Ozil limps off towards the end of Germany’s win in Sweden. Chelsea midfielders Oscar, Juan Mata and Kevin de Bruyne all find the net, Alvaro Negredo, Wayne Rooney and Luis Suarez retain their scoring touch, while Artur Boruc and Michel Vorm will be hoping to recover after missing out through injury last night:
Chelsea Midfielders in the Goals
Many of Jose Mourinho’s attacking midfielders staked a claim for inclusion ahead of Saturday’s home game with Cardiff last night. Andre Schurrle was the standout performer of the night after grabbing a hat-trick in Germany’s 5-3 win over Sweden, whilst Kevin de Bruyne, Oscar and Juan Mata also found the net, with the latter two climbing off the bench to notch for Brazil and Spain respectively. Eden Hazard was afforded a 32-minute second-half run out in Belgium’s draw with Wales.
The Scout Says: Schurrle continues to look a real under the radar option ahead of Chelsea’s favourable run of fixtures – despite failing to find the net in the league so far, he has now started four of the last five and seems to have edged his way up the pecking order of late. At just 7.3 in FPL, compared to Mata’s 9.6, for example, the German is less of a risk should he fall foul to his manager’s rotational whims, though the Spaniard also threw his hat in the ring for a second consecutive start this weekend, scoring just three minutes after being introduced to the proceedings. Oscar remains the likeliest – and most secure – of yesterday’s goal heroes, though. He’s now scored in each of the last three for club and country and, having shaken off a knock to prove his fitness, can be expected to receive significant Fantasy attention ahead of the Bluebirds clash; already, over 46,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers have drafted in the Brazilian playmaker since the end of the previous Gameweek
Ozil Scare for Gunners
Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil continued their sensational seasons with a pair of standout displays last night. Ramsey atoned for missing a spot-kick for Wales last Friday by grabbing a late equaliser away to Belgium, while Ozil helped steer Germany to victory in Sweden with a goal and assist – his owners are left anxiously awaiting updates, however, after he limped off with eight minutes remaining.
The Scout Says: While Ramsey’s irresistible form will delight Arsene Wenger and his Fantasy owners alike, a possible injury for Ozil would prove a major headache ahead of Saturday’s clash against Norwich. With Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla likely to miss out against the Canaries, Ozil’s contribution looks vital to the Gunners’ hopes of victory after their winning run came to an end at West Brom last night out – despite failing to net in the league so far, he has now scored in three of the last four matches for club and country in all competitions. Sitting in over 31% of teams in FPL, it’s fair to say an injury update from the Emirates can’t come soon enough as his owners anxiously await Wenger’s next press conference – early reports in the German press, however, reckon it’s no more than bruising.
Boruc and Vorm Weekend Worries
Fantasy managers are on alert after a couple of the Premier league’s top stoppers missed last night’s action. Vorm was expected to be given the nod for Holland’s match against Turkey but according to reports in the Dutch press he has picked up a hand problem, while Boruc failed to feature against England after sustaining a hamstring strain in Poland’s win over Ukraine on Friday.
The Scout Says: An official prognosis on both keepers is already keenly awaited as we assess our options for the weekend. Given that Swansea are braced for a superb run of fixtures over the next five Gameweeks, any potential injury absence to Vorm would bring Gerhard Tremmel (priced at 4.4 in FPL) into consideration. Boruc’s 16% owners will be desperate for his availability on the back of four consecutive clean sheets – granted, while a trip to United is far from easy, Southampton then have Fulham, Stoke and Hull to follow before the schedule stiffens from Gameweek 12. Certainly, the fact that he was considered fit enough to take his place on the bench last night will offer some reassurance.
Morrison at the Double
West Ham’s man of the moment maintained his recent form by bagging a brace for the England Under 21s in a 5-0 win over Lithuania last night. West Brom youngster Saido Berahino also continued his impressive run of displays with a pair of goals, having recently grabbed the Baggies winner against United.
The Scout Says: Morrison’s headline-grabbing display is likely to bring him increased investment over the next few days as the Hammers prepare for the visit of City. Fantasy managers have been understandably wary of jumping aboard what is Morrison’s second bandwagon of the season after his summer form failed to persuade Sam Allardyce of a regular berth but he seems to have finally won his manager over in recent weeks. Having started each of the last four, he has found the net in two of the last previous three league matches and at just 4.4 in FPL, looks a real in-form differential contender for those hunting for an alternative to the likes of previous budget options such as Aaron Ramsey or Ross Barkley in midfield.
Gibson Concern for Toffees
Roberto Martinez is bracing himself for the worst after Darron Gibson was stretchered off in the first-half of Republic of Ireland’s win over Kazakhstan last night. The midfielder was treated on the pitch for several minutes before being taken off and the FAI issued a statement via twitter which revealed he is set to undergo scans for suspected knee ligament damage.
The Scout Says: Worryingly for the Merseysiders, Gibson has only just recovered from a knee problem, with his Gameweek 7 sub appearance against City the first time he has featured this season. If the prognosis turns out to be as first feared, the former United player is set for an extended period on the sidelines – certainly dispelling any fears over Ross Barkley’s game time in the centre of the park. Martinez is likely to utilise one of Leon Osman or James McCarthy alongside Gareth Barry in the deep-lying roles, though Osman’s versatility continues to benefit him on the flank as Martinez eases Steven Pienaar back to full fitness after the South African was sidelined with a muscle injury.
Negredo Nets Once More
Alvaro Negredo notched for the second successive game as Spain booked their place in next year’s finals. The City forward was given the nod ahead of Michu to start last night and needed just 26 minutes before opening the scoring – David Silva was an unused sub, though Jesus Navas played the full 90 minutes. Elsewhere for City, Stevan Jovetic’s double was unable to prevent Montenegro from suffering a home defeat at the hands of Moldova, Edin Dzeko supplied an assist in Bosnia’s 1-0 win over Lithuania and Aleksandar Kolarov grabbed a goal (via the spot) and assist in Serbia’s 5-1 win over
The Scout Says: Negredo certainly looks likely to continue up top for City for the weekend trip to West Ham after yet another impressive display. Despite fears of rest and rotation as City battle on a number of fronts, the Spaniard has started each of the last four Gameweeks and remains ahead of both Dzeko and Jovetic as Manuel Pellegrini’s preferred strike partner for Sergio Aguero. The latter’s owners will be delighted to hear he was given the night off by Argentina last night – Aguero was due to face Uruguay in the early hours of this morning but was released from the squad after his country secured top spot in their qualifying group last week.
Rooney Form Continues
Wayne Rooney is another top-flight forward to maintain his eye for goal over the international break. While Daniel Sturridge failed to find the net last night, the United forward’s opener in England’s win over Poland kept up his consistency after he also netted against Montenegro on Friday evening. Elsewhere for United, Robin Van Persie played the first 45 minutes in Holland’s 2-0 win in Turkey before being replaced at the break, while David Moyes will also be delighted to hear that Nani grabbed a goal in Portugal’s home win over Luxembourg.
The Scout Says: With Van Persie scoring a hat-trick against Hungary last Friday, the United front two have racked up five goals between them over the international break as their form starts to pick up after both drew blanks against Sunderland last time out. In spite of a run of three home games and trips to Cardiff and Fulham in the next five, Van Persie has been shipped out by 58,000 FPL managers over the last week or so – more than any other forward – whilst Rooney has proven fifth most unpopular despite finding the net in three of his last four league matches. If both can continue their recent exploits, those who have opted for the Olivier Giroud/Romelu Lukaku/Sturridge template could be ruing their decision to overlook the United attackers as Moyes’ men look to build on their comeback win over the Black Cats.
Suarez on the Spot
The Liverpool forward grabbed a crucial spot-kick as Uruguay edged Argentina 3-2 at home in the early hours of this morning. Suarez – who also supplied an assist – now faces a two-legged play-off against Jordan, however, after results elsewhere meant his country finished fifth in the South America group. Reds team-mate Daniel Agger also benefitted from penalty duties by converting two spot-kicks in Denmark’s 6-0 win over Malta.
The Scout Says: With his outstanding form continuing, Suarez owners will be mulling over handing him the armband for the weekend trip to Newcastle, where Fabricio Coloccini is struggling with a muscle injury. If the Argentine misses out, Alan Pardew is likely to field Mike Williamson alongside Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa at centre-half unless Steven Taylor can recover in time from a hamstring injury. The play-offs against Jordan are unlikely to affect his domestic game time, though – the home and away games fall on November 13/14 and November 20 – in between Gameweeks 11 and 12, with the latter match arriving three days before the first Merseyside derby of the season.
