We scour the budget bracket ahead of this morning’s deadline in the hunt for some cut-price midfield inspiration. All three of our selected players are available for under the 6.0 and have some favourable fixtures this weekend and beyond to potentially take advantage of.
Pablo Hernandez
Back in the Swansea City fold after finally recovering from a thigh injury, the Spaniard has now started each of the last two for Michael Laudrup’s side. Hernandez’ class was more than apparent earlier in the season when he racked up 20 points over the first three Gameweeks before succumbing to a hamstring problem and, whilst he’s yet to produce any further returns, the former Valencia man has three kind-looking matches in the next five Gameweeks to get his season back up and running.
Up next for the Swans is a home clash against Hull tomorrow and, with Laudrup’s men scoring three or more in all but one of their last four at the Liberty, Hernandez’ endeavours on the left could prove to be the undoing of Steve Bruce’s side. With Norwich and Villa also on their agenda before the turn of the year, the Spaniard – coming in at 5.7 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), 6.5 in the Sky Sports game and 3.0 in the Sun Dream Team – looks a decent mid-price shout for those who reckon he can replicate his outstanding August form.
Nathan Redmond
Norwich’s summer signing first arrived on our radars back in Gameweek 3 after producing an 11 point return at home to Southampton. Redmond quickly found himself forced out of Chris Hughton’s starting line-up a couple of games later, but with first-choice wide men Anthony Pilkington and Robert Snodgrass both recently sidelined through injury, he’s grabbed his second chance with both hands.
Redmond’s pace on the flank has posed plenty problems for opponents of late and helped the wide man pick up an assist against both Newcastle and Liverpool over the last three Gameweeks. With five favourable fixtures in the upcoming six (wba, SWA, sun, FUL, cpl) Redmond – at 4.6 in FPL and in the Sky Sports game and 1.5 in the Sun Dream Team – is handed the chance to continue his recent impressive showings down the Canaries’ flanks.
Pajtim Kasami
The Fulham midfielder has offered a real consistency of game time which has proven almost unrivalled in the budget bracket. Coming in at just 4.5 in FPL (and 4.2 in the Sky Sports game), Kasami has started all but one of his side’s first 14 fixtures and, crucially, has been subbed off in just one of his 13 starts – back in Gameweek 5 away to Chelsea, with just six minutes left on the clock.
Significantly, Kasami has demonstrated a keen eye for goal which has already come to fruition twice, with strikes against Sunderland and Palace bolstering his cut-price appeal. With Martin Jol now gone and Rene Meulensteen at the helm, the Swiss international is poised for a kind run of matches which may well help him climb up the Fantasy rankings. A home game against Villa this weekend is supplemented by clashes against Norwich, Hull, West Ham and Sunderland in the next seven Gameweeks – suggesting that the upcoming run of matches will be critical to the new manager’s success.
