Spot the Differential – Gameweek 12

As the Gameweek 12 deadline edges ever closer, we roll out another trio of overlooked options for your perusal once again. Our attentions turn to a couple of cut-price attackers looking to net yet again, whilst a fit-again City midfielder also makes his way onto this morning’s radar.

Samir Nasri

After a couple of months on the sidelines, the Frenchman has returned to action just in time for a kind upcoming run of matches for City. Afforded his first start since Gameweek 4 last time around, Nasri’s comeback has already diminished James Milner’s minutes and, as we saw last season – where he made 34 league appearances – Nasri, when fully fit, is a firm favourite of Manuel Pellegrini’s.

Certainly, with a single assist in six league outings, it’s fair to say that the midfielder has yet to find his form. As he begins to build up his match sharpness, though, Pellegrini will be looking to afford Nasri the same sort of attacking license that produced seven goals and 11 assists in last term’s title-winning campaign. Available for 8.2 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, he’s currently owned by less than 2% of Fantasy managers, but with showdowns against Swansea, Sunderland, Leicester and Palace in the next six, he seems one to monitor as the champions look to go on the offensive to keep their title tilt on track.

Ayoze Perez

Utilised as a brief sub in seven of the opening eight Gameweeks, Newcastle’s summer signing has hit the ground running upon his introduction to Alan Pardew’s starting XI. Handed his first start in Gameweek 9, Perez has proceeded to score in each of the subsequent three league outings, netting against Tottenham, Liverpool and West Brom as the Magpies ascend the table.

The young Spaniard has also earned six bonus points in the FPL game for his recent endeavours, and with Pardew keen to court caution with Papiss Cisse in light of his knee problem, Perez look in line to retain the lone striker role at home to QPR this weekend. Bearing in mind the R’s have conceded in every road trip so far, the Tyneside team will be looking for Perez to produce the goods once again and, available for a cut-price 4.8, he could well be worth considering ahead of a schedule which also sees him square up to West Ham, Burnley and Sunderland in the following five.

Bojan Krkic

Yes, we’ve been here before. The Spaniard’s stunning pre-season form had many eyeing up his acquisition but a sluggish start to life in the top-flight saw him tumble off Fantasy radars and Mark Hughes’ team sheet before August was over.

Over the last couple of Gameweeks, though, Bojan has finally settled at the Britannia and is looking instrumental to Stoke’s prospects in the final third. Handed back-to-back starts in the role in “the hole”, the summer signing grabbed a goal and two bonus points in a 2-1 win at Tottenham last time around and looks poised to retain his starting berth as Burnley come calling later today.

The Potters have now scored twice in three of their last four league fixtures, and with the fixture list turning nasty in Gameweek 13, a victory against the Clarets looks vital. Available for just 4.8 in FPL, he squares up to a side that have conceded more shots inside the box than any other in the last four Gameweeks, suggesting points could be on the horizon for anyone brave enough to roll the dice.