We return after another weekend of FA Cup interruptions to bring you Gameweek 23 of this season’s Scout Picks, where Mark, Jonty, a different member of the community and I pick an XI for the upcoming round of fixtures. Each week, our line-ups go head-to-head and over the course of the season we’ll be keeping a tally of the points as we go along, with the budget now sitting at 84.0 apiece for our starting line-ups.

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I’ve chosen Sunderland’s Costel Pantilimon in goal due to his strong clean sheet potential and tendency of picking up save points. My trio of defenders are the top BPS magnets (from my Community article) from the three teams that I believe are most likely to keep a clean sheet this week. They also carry attacking potential from set pieces.

Santi Cazorla comes in for Alexis Sanchez, due to the latter’s hamstring problem, whereas Raheem Sterling is finding his mojo after returning from a break in Jamaica and is a strong candidate for attacking returns. I’ve opted for a United double up in midfield as they host Leicester. Angel di Maria is the obvious choice but I’ve gone with Juan Mata as well. The Spaniard has picked up eight attacking returns this season, with seven of them, including five goals, coming at Old Trafford. Eden Hazard is also included due to his impressive home form and penalty duties. It was proven earlier in the season that he performs better in Diego Costa’s absence, too.

What better fixture to open your account for your new club than Burnley at home? Jermaine Defoe will be eager to get off the mark against one of the weakest defences in the league. Olivier Giroud is my third Arsenal player and looks a very strong option this week – he’ll look to build on his goal at the Etihad in the last Gameweek.

Jonty

With 57 saves since taking the number one jersey at Sunderland in Gameweek 10, Costel Pantilimon is the form goalkeeper and looks a strong shout for a clean sheet when Burnley visit. With usual picks Diego Costa suspended and Sergio Aguero facing a tough trip to the Bridge, I’ve money to burn this week and have decided to spread it across the positions.

In defence, I’ve opted for the bonus point prospects of Laurent Koscielny, the assist threat of Ryan Bertrand and the clean sheet and set piece potential of United’s Phil Jones.

While Victor Moses is a strong choice among Stoke’s ranks, I’ve opted for the superior goal threat of Jonathan Walters, who is priced the same and is also likely to be on spot kick duties with Bojan Krkic now out for the season through injury. Jason Puncheon sat on my team’s bench last Gameweek and notched 12 points – I won’t make that mistake again as he graces both my picks and Fantasy Premier League XI at home to Everton.

With an eye-popping 47 points in his last four Premier League home appearances, Alexis Sanchez was my Arsenal midfielder of choice, but with concerns around his hamstring I’ve opted for the security of Santi Cazorla instead. West Ham’s injury worries in defence propel Raheem Sterling onto my radar. Elsewhere in midfield, Eden Hazard’s penalty duties and attacking threat could come in handy when Manchester City visit – over the last six Gameweeks, the champions have just one clean sheet.

With a goal against City in Gameweek 22, Olivier Giroud is ticking along nicely after returning from a three-match suspension. Wayne Rooney is now relegated to cheeky punt status after being fielded deep in midfield by Louis Van Gaal. In what may mark his final appearance in my picks this season, I’m banking on him renewing my faith with at least a goal at home against a dire Leicester City.

Mark

I’ve chosen to avoid Chelsea’s clash with City – for me, there’s just too many variables at play to risk any Fantasy faith. While that strips the talent pool, there are plenty of home bankers on offer to serve my chosen XI.

Arsenal’s Emirates meeting with Villa drives me to pluck a trio of Arsene Wenger’s charges across each position. Santi Cazorla’s selection is sealed by the potential absence of Alexis Sanchez, while Olivier Giroud looks a shoo-in, highlighting the current shortage of reliable heavy-hitters up front. Indeed, with Graziano Pelle and Jermain Defoe in my attack, the forward line is a heady mix of differentials.

In midfield, I’ve relied on the return of Daniel Sturridge to spark Raheem Sterling to further returns against West Ham, while I expect Stoke to turn to Jon Walters to provide a semblance of a cutting edge against QPR in the absence of Bojan’s guile.

In defence, Laurent Koscielny is joined by Ryan Bertrand, with Southampton looking assured of a shut-out against a Swansea side that boast Nathan Dyer as their leading goalscorer at St Mary’s. I’ve reluctantly turned to the corner-taking king that is Phil Jones for United’s Old Trafford meeting with Leicester, while Asmir Begovic gets the nod for Stoke against a QPR side with just five goals on the road all season.

Paul

Costel Pantilimon’s average of 4.8 point per appearances earns him a place between the posts for Sunderland’s home clash with Burnley. Ryan Bertrand, Per Mertesacker and Phil Jones offer safe routes into the Southampton, Arsenal and United defences, with the latter’s recent share of corner kicks bolstering his points potential.

In midfield, I’m banking on Eden Hazard to make the difference as Chelsea host City at the Bridge. With Diego Costa suspended, the Belgian’s contribution looks more key than ever as the hosts look for a win that would take them eight points clear of their opponents. I’m drafting in Victor Moses for Stoke’s home clash with a QPR side that have lost every away match so far, whilst I’ll stick my neck out and hand Theo Walcott a spot as the Gunners entertain Villa. Arsene Wenger is admittedly reluctant to risk Alexis Sanchez and with his options out wide limited, Theo looks in line for a start here. Raheem Sterling has produced returns in three of his last four and with the Hammers nursing a number of injury doubts in defence, he could be in line to deliver again.

Up top, my decision to opt for Graziano Pelle has been guided by yesterday’s Captain Sensible article – visitors Swansea have afforded their opponents 15 big chances in the last four Gameweeks; at least double the number of all but two other teams. Jermain Defoe should benefit from Sunderland’s new 3-5-2 formation in his first home league outing and Olivier Giroud’s four goals in five appearances underlines his form heading into Sunday’s encounter with Villa.

The Scores So Far

In Gameweek 22, Brooksyp steered the community to victory over the Scouts with a score of 58 points, one ahead of Mark and putting my score of 49 and Jonty’s tally of 44 in the shade.

Overall Mark retains the lead on 1141, followed by myself on 1129, Jonty on 1112 and the community on 1037.