Spot the Differential – Gameweek 32

We offer up a trio of midfielders for your perusal this morning in our usual pre-deadline search for overlooked alternatives. All three of our selections are caught up in the relegation battle – two have just returned from injury to stake a claim, whilst the other is starting to find his form and offer Fantasy managers a tempting cut-price option:

Michu

Two goals in his first 10 appearances of 2013/14 suggested the Spaniard was suffering from “second season syndrome” after an outstanding first year in the Premier League. With Europa League commitments also to consider after the previous campaign’s cup success, Michu was mainly hampered by the club’s relentless schedule – an ankle injury forced him onto the sidelines in early November before a brief return the following month was curtailed after just two games as a result of knee surgery.

Tentatively eased back into the fold by Garry Monk, the midfielder was afforded his first start in three months on Tuesday’s draw at the Emirates before making way just after the hour mark. With the Swans sitting just five points clear of the drop zone, the former Rayo Vallecano man has the chance to atone for his time on the sidelines and help steer his side to safety over the next few matches.

Michu has a home clash against Norwich this weekend and with Hull, Newcastle, Villa and Sunderland all still to follow, has a favourable run-in to boost his Fantasy prospects. After his 18-goal exploits last time around, he’s far from cheap at 8.4 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), 8.8 in the Sky Sports game and 4.5 in the Sun Dream Team, but if Monk’s side can continue the attacking form which has harvested three goals against Liverpool and two against Everton and Arsenal, a match-fit Michu will surely have a part to play.

Jordan Mutch

Two goals and an assist against Liverpool last weekend have already earned the Cardiff midfielder a hefty midweek bandwagon. Mutch has risen from 4.4 to 4.6 in FPL as a result of his exploits against the Merseysiders and, with a 16-point Gameweek 31 return his second double-figure haul in the last three league matches, he’s shaping up as a key figure in the Bluebirds’ bid to beat the drop.

Whilst the likes of Peter Whittingham, Craig Noone and even Wilfried Zaha have piqued our interest over the course of the campaign, Mutch’s recent displays have cemented his spot as the man most likely in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s midfield. Now up to six goals and six assists in 19 league starts, his weekend endeavours will surely have earned him a fourth successive start under the Norwegian as the Welsh outfit make their way to fellow-strugglers West Brom.

With Palace, Stoke and Sunderland in the subsequent four, Mutch – priced at 4.1 in the Sky Sports game and 1.5 in the Sun Dream Team – has the schedule to maintain his recent showings and boost his side’s survival prospects.

Stephane Sessegnon

The Baggies midfielder made an instant impact on his first start under new manager Pepe Mel in Gameweek 30. Finally recovered from a groin injury, Sessegnon was handed a role alongside Victor Anichebe up front in West Brom’s Gameweek 30 trip to Swansea and responded with a goal and couple of bonus – serving up his first double-figure return of the season.

A change in formation last weekend saw the Benin international move to the tip of a midfield diamond behind Anichebe and Thievy in a disappointing defeat at Hull. With his side failing to find the net at the KC, Mel may once again alter his formation – with Anichebe struggling to shake off a hamstring injury, Sessegnon may even be shifted back up front for tomorrow’s trip to Cardiff.

With a schedule which includes Norwich, West Ham, Sunderland and Stoke in the final seven rounds of matches, including a double Gameweek 37, Sessegnon (6.4 in FPL, 6.7 in the Sky Sports game and 3.5 in the Sun Dream Team) may yet rediscover the form which made him such a mid-price favourite in his final two seasons on Wearside.