We’ve plenty to ponder ahead of the weekend deadline, as domestic action finally gets back underway. The Thursday lunchtime menu is jam-packed today, with City, United and Liverpool’s frontman on our agenda, whilst Everton and Tottenham’s in-form assets are also under surveillance ahead of some tempting upcoming schedules.

Aguero as a Captain Option…
Diego Costa still stands out in front in our Captain Poll but Aguero’s credentials from this point on could change with Saturday’s fixtures. As we’ve mentioned recently, the Argentine has earned bonus points in all five matches he has scored in – Costa, for all his consistency, has delivered us bonus in just three of the six Gameweeks he has notched. If Aguero returns again at home to Spurs, he’s beginning to look a serious armband contender.

Milner’s new attacking outlook…
City’s budget midfielder has returned 19 points over the last four Gameweeks and continues to benefit from Samir Nasri’s groin injury absence. Ever the workhorse, his all-round game has helped him pick up four bonus points and two assists over that period – can he build on his impressive attacking display at Villa and offer us a viable midfield option and cheap City cover?

The Spurs counter-attack…
Mauricio Pochettino has set Spurs up to soak pressure, press and attack on the counter. So far, Spurs have been anything but an attacking force of nature, scoring just eight times in the opening seven fixtures, though there’s no doubting how key Nacer Chadli has been – the Belgian has played a part in five of those strikes, with four goals and an assist already. If Chadli can recover from a hip problem and deliver at the Etihad, the bandwagon will surely kick into gear as the schedule smiles more kindly.

Robertson vs Bellerin…
With Mathieu Debuchy injured and Calum Chambers suspended, the Gunners are forced to field the inexperienced right-back Hector Bellerin against Hull’s flying Scotsman this weekend. Steve Bruce is likely to retain a 3-5-2 set-up and hand Robertson the left wing-back berth again and bearing in mind he’s created eight chances over the last four matches – only Leighton Baines has managed more amongst defenders – Robertson will be a major attacking outlet as the Tigers plan to shock the Emirates.

Burnley’s Quest for Goals…
After a five-match drought, Sean Dyche’s side finally found the net with two strikes at Leicester but can they continue that against an improving West Ham rearguard? The Burnley attack and the Hammers defence could both provide low-to-mid price options – we get the chance to assess these two options head-to-head. Saturday’s match is the first of five decent home fixtures in the next seven and The Clarets need to start firing if they’re to prove the bookies wrong and beat the drop. At 5.0, Scott Arfield has played a part in two of his side’s three goals this season and could arrive on our radars if he carries on from the Gameweek 7 assist and two bonus points against the Foxes.

Baines’ Window of Opportunity…
The Everton left-back has so often flirted with our squads, though for many, now looks the perfect time to invest. The Toffees are set for a superb run of fixtures that will surely help them climb up the table and with a goal or assist in four of his last five, Baines welcomes Villa to Goodison in excellent form – should he deliver against Paul Lambert’s side, he will surely enjoy huge investment in the coming weeks.

Benteke’s Goodison Minutes…
The big Belgian was handed just 30 minutes off the bench against City last time around as Villa ease him back into action. Lambert’s side desperately need a boost up front, though – they’ve failed to score in the last three and Benteke looks in line for increased pitch time against a Toffees backline with one clean sheet all season. With the fixtures starting to ease now, how long before the Belgian becomes a consideration as a mid-price option up front?

The flanking Foxes…
Nigel Pearson tore up his 4-3-3 formation and dropped David Nugent to the bench against Burnley last time around, allowing Jamie Vardy to partner Leonardo Ulloa through the centre. The Foxes manager’s decision to switch to 4-4-2 allowed Riyad Mahrez and Jeffrey Schlupp back into the starting line-up and both vindicated their manager’s decision with a goal apiece in the 2-2 stalemate – with the fixtures falling nicely for Leicester, both have the chance to stake a claim for our consideration, with the 4.5-priced defender Schlupp offering us an out-of-position prospect.

Sturridge and Sterling in tandem…
It’s looking likely that the Liverpool striker will return to action for the first time since Gameweek 3 this weekend as the Reds travel to basement-dwellers QPR. Sturridge’s performance in particular, could force a rethink amongst our three-man frontlines if he hits the ground running – owned by just 9% of FPL managers, the upcoming fixtures could barely be kinder to his Fantasy potential. We’ll be looking for Sterling to deliver, too – he racked up two goals and an assist alongside Sturridge in the opening three but has returned just a single strike in the subsequent four.

Falcao’s threat as the Di Maria alternative…
Unsurprisingly, Fantasy managers have flocked to the in-form Argentine on the back of a goal and assist in three of his last four appearances. Whilst Di Maria has been hogging the headlines, Falcao has quietly ticked over and produced returns in each of the last three – with his match sharpness looking up to speed, the Colombian will be looking to add to his goal against Everton last time around as United roll up to the Hawthorns on Monday. Deliver again and some may start to consider him as a viable alternative to his fellow South American.

Berahino on the big stage…
The United rearguard will offer him further opportunities to prove his talent and stake a claim as the best budget forward around. Berahino has already racked up five strikes on his way to 39 points – just one point off second in the FPL forward standings. With spot-kicks to boost his potential, Fantasy managers may well be set to consider freeing up funds to acquire the Baggies youngster, who then faces Palace, Leicester and Newcastle in the following three.

Irvine’s right-back dilemma…
With Andre Wisdom unavailable to face parent club Liverpool last time around, Cristian Gamboa turned in an impressive display on the right of West Brom’s back-four. Sitting in over 12% of FPL sides, Wisdoms’ starts had looked assured up until now but if Alan Irvine keeps faith with the Costa Rican, we look set to be deprived of another low budget option for our five-man backlines this season.