Scout Scribbles – Sturridge Close to Reds Return

Daniel Sturridge returns to training for Liverpool. Tottenham’s Kyle Walker steps up his recovery, Hull’s injury situation starts to ease, Romelu Lukaku nets for Belgium, Sergio Aguero helps Argentina to a narrow win over Croatia, whilst Ron Vlaar limps off for Holland.

Sturridge Back in Training for Reds

The Liverpool forward gave Brendan Rodgers reason for optimism yesterday after finally returning to training as he steps up his recovery from a calf complaint. Due to the current international break, Sturridge won’t be involved in full training until next week, though, when the rest of the Reds squad return from competition.

The Scout Says: Having won two of the first three Gameweeks with Sturridge on board, Liverpool have triumphed just twice in the subsequent eight as their early-season promise quickly fades. Priced at 11.2, a potential return for Sturridge would threaten to shake up the frontline pecking order across the Fantasy games if he can quickly rediscover his form. Certainly, the fixtures are on his side – Rodgers’s side have Palace, Stoke, Leicester and Sunderland in the next four and with their talisman back on board, Raheem Sterling’s prospects could also be set for an upturn. The youngster scored in two of the first three but has netted just once since – with over 450,000 FPL managers parting company in the last three Gameweeks, he’s now back at his original starting price of 8.5 from a season high of 9.0.

Walker Nears Tottenham Comeback

Reports suggest the defender could be back first-team training next week as he closes in on a return to action. Walker is believed to be training with the Spurs Under 21 squad this week and, providing he suffers no setbacks, may even be in the frame for the Gameweek 12 trip to Hull.

The Scout Says: Bearing in mind Kyle Naughton is set to serve a two-match ban after earning his second red card of the season against Stoke, Mauricio Pochettino will be relieved by yesterday’s news. Walker has failed to feature since March due to a pelvic problem and whilst the Spurs boss utilised Erik Dier at right-back on occasion earlier this term, the summer signing has fallen out of favour in recent weeks and has been benched for the last two Gameweeks – indeed, Dyer’s decision to sit out England U21 duties this week to avoid featuring at right-back underlines just how uncomfortable the youngster is with the role . Walker is now down to 5.8 in FPL but with a single clean sheet in nine, Pochettino’s chopping and changing has done little to improve his side’s solidity – Danny Rose (5.0) is the most secure of their defensive starters but, given their current woes, few will be jumping on board any time soon.

Injuries Ease for Tigers

Steve Bruce could welcome back a trio of regulars for Hull’s upcoming home clash with Spurs, according to reports. Number one Allan McGregor is back in full training after recovering from a shoulder problem, whilst Michael Dawson and Nikica Jelavic have both stepped up their recoveries from ankle and knee problems and are expected to return to first-team training next week.

The Scout Says: Dawson’s likely return would be a major boost to Bruce, bearing in mind Curtis Davies is currently doubtful with a back injury that forced him off at Burnley last time around. Whilst Hull have been relatively resilient in the last three without Dawson and conceded just twice, it’s fair to say Jelavic’s absence has been far more detrimental – the Tigers have scored in only one of the last four Gameweeks without him on board. The Croatian’s strong start to the season had seen him strike four times in the first seven, whilst strike partner Abel Hernandez had netted two in four alongside him and a return to action will surely confine Hatem Ben Arfa to bench-warming duties again; the Frenchman had started two of the first three without Jelavic as Bruce turned to a 3-5-1-1 formation but was ousted from the XI at Turf Moor in Gameweek 11. Fixtures-wise, though, showdowns against Spurs, United, Everton and Chelsea in the next five suggests points may be hard to come by.

Vlaar Adds to Villa Defensive Woes

Paul Lambert will be sweating over the availability of his skipper after he was forced off midway through the first-half of Holland’s clash with Mexico last night.

The Scout Says: A potential injury to Vlaar merely adds to Villa’s concerns, with Philippe Senderos (calf) and Nathan Baker (back) both doubtful for the Gameweek 12 home match against Southampton. Given that Alan Hutton is also injured, the worst case scenario would see Villa square up to the Saints without three of their first-choice back-four next time around – surely enough to persuade Southampton’s Fantasy owners to hold until the schedule takes a turn for the worse in Gameweek 13. A clean sheet against West Ham last weekend was Villa’s first in seven attempts but if Vlaar is also sidelined, few will be willing to take a punt despite their fixtures improving (bur, cpl, LEI, wba) after the clash with Ronald Koeman’s side.

Willian Stars in Samba Rout

City midfielder Fernandinho joined Chelsea trio Willian, Oscar and Filipe Luis in Brazil’s starting line-up in a 4-0 demolition of Turkey last night. Whilst Luis played the full 90 minutes, the three midfielders were subbed off midway through the second period, with Willian serving up a goal and assist before being replaced by Douglas Costa.

The Scout Says: In all likelihood, it’ll take more than last night’s performance to persuade Jose Mourinho that Willian is worthy of a regular starting berth for Chelsea. The Brazilian has featured in the Blues first XI on six occasions thus far and offers little of the security of pitch time we are afforded by the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and, in recent weeks, Oscar. Frustratingly, when handed the minutes he can produce – Willian has played from start to finish twice and grabbed a goal and assist on one of those occasions, but it’ll likely take a spate of injuries before Mourinho relies on the Brazilian week-in, week-out.

Aguero Key to Argentina Win

The City striker played a part in his country’s 2-1 win over Croatia before being replaced just after the hour mark. An effort from Cristian Ansaldi found the net after deflecting off Aguero, who then earned the penalty for Lionel Messi’s winner, in a match that also saw three Premier League-based defenders (Pablo Zabaleta, Federico Fazio and Santiago Vergini) play from start to finish, whilst United’s Angel di Maria was afforded 77 minutes before making way.

The Scout Says: Aguero and Di Maria owners will be relieved both made it through unscathed in last night’s Upton Park encounter. Luckily for those Fantasy managers holding Argentina players, we have no worries over long-haul flights next week either – the South Americans’ clash against Portugal on Tuesday evening takes place at Old Trafford. The two popular Fantasy assets have played a significant part in the FPL transfer market since the previous Gameweek – whilst Aguero is the most sought-after forward after taking his tally to 12 for the season with a brace against QPR, Di Maria is second only to Raheem Sterling amongst midfielders for transfers out, having produced just two assists in his last four.

Lukaku Nets in Belgium Triumph

Everton’s record signing replaced Eden Hazard at the break and grabbed a goal on 73 minutes in Belgium’s 3-1 friendly win over Iceland. Lukaku was one of nine Premier League players to turn out for Marc Wilmots’ side, with Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, Marouane Fellaini, Christian Benteke and Adnan Januzaj amongst those named in the XI – the latter pair grabbed an assist before making way in the second half.

The Scout Says: Having failed to score in each of the first three Gameweeks, Lukaku has since notched in four of the last eight for Everton. Still owned by only 9% of FPL managers, the fixtures fall in the big Belgian’s favour, with West Ham, Spurs, Hull and QPR in the next five, and with Graziano Pelle owners considering their options when Southampton’s schedule turns nasty in Gameweek 13, the 9.1-priced Toffees forward may yet find his way into Fantasy plans. Hazard’s owners will be delighted with his 45-minute cameo, though the Chelsea midfielder is likely to feature more prominently in Sunday’s Euro Qualifier with Wales. Elsewhere, Gylfi Sigurdsson was an unused sub for the beaten visitors.