Marouane Fellaini’s attacking menace materialises on the international stage as his brace helps Belgium ease past Cyprus. Aaron Ramsey continues his ascent with a convincing display as Wales cruise, while Gylfi Sigurdsson and Edin Dzeko issue reminders of their talents.
Fellaini On Fire As Belgium Hit Five
A trio of Premier League stars combined for four of Belgium’s goals as they swept aside Cyprus in a 5-0 Group B qualifier. Marouane Fellaini chalked up two goals, while Christian Benteke netted the second strike of the evening. Not to be outdone, Eden Hazard scored with a curling effort and supplied the pinpoint cross for Benteke’s goal.
The Scout Says: Fellaini’s revival and growing confidence under the stewardship of Louis van Gaal clearly translated to a wider stage. A much-maligned figure, Fellaini has nonetheless been highly effective since forging a way back into Van Gaal’s first team and has now emerged as a genuine Fantasy prospect. Available for just 6.3 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Fellaini’s stock is firmly on the rise as he continues to play a vital role in United’s attacking ploys. He will surely start against Villa at home in Gameweek 31, before United host rivals City. Fellaini goes into those matches having already enjoyed FPL “net transfers in” of over 11,000 prior to Gameweek 30 – his biggest increase in ownership of the season. Despite that, he’s owned by just 0.9% of the FPL manager base, ensuring his status as a sure-fire differential ahead of that pair of Old Trafford ties.
Hazard further illustrated his laudable consistency as Chelsea gear up for a busy run-in. The Blues livewire has failed to deliver attacking returns in just four of his previous 14 league starts, cementing him as an essential Fantasy pick ahead of fixtures with Stoke City and QPR in the next two Gameweeks.
Allied with his three goals in as many starts for Aston Villa, Christian Benteke’s strike for Belgium keeps him simmering ahead of Aston Villa’s double Gameweek 31 fixtures. While he represents a viable gamble for the double-header, it should be noted that Villa follow that with a blank, sandwiched between away trips to Spurs and Man City.
Ramsey shines beside brilliant Bale
Aaron Ramsey bagged a goal and an assist as Wales stormed to the top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group with a 3-0 away victory over Israel. The Arsenal midfielder latched onto a Gareth Bale header, nodding a looping effort beyond the clutches of the back-pedalling keeper. He was then instrumental in Wales’ third of the night, outfoxing the Israeli defence before playing in Bale for his brace.
The Scout Says: Until recently, Ramsey’s season had been blighted by indifferent form and recurring hamstring issues, restricting him to just 16 league starts. However, his last three starts in all competitions have harvested two goals an assist, suggesting that Ramsey is beginning to edge closer to the form and output which made him such an essential Fantasy selection for much of last season. Ramsey’s revival could represent bad news for Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil owners, with the Welshman staking a claim for regular starts and presenting an option in the central attacking role behind a lone striker. Cazorla and Ozil have shared the “Number 10” role in recent fixtures but could now be locked in rotation with Ramsey, or forced to compete for wide positions, over the season run-in.
Sigurdsson’s ice-cold delivery
Gylfi Sigurdsson notched an assist as Iceland ran out 3-0 winners over Kazakhstan in their Group A clash. The Swansea midfielder delivered a free-kick that Birkir Bjarnason wilfully rose to meet and head into the hosts’ net.
The Scout Says: As the Swans prepare to embark on a favourable run of five fixtures (HUL, EVE, lei, new, STO), any sign of attacking productivity from Sigurdsson will be welcomed by the Icelander’s remaining 24% ownership. The former Tottenham midfielder has tallied just one goal since his return from a hamstring injury in January, although his displays and underlying statistics have hinted at stronger returns to come. With Hull City paying a visit to the Liberty Stadium next weekend, Sigurdsson could be subject to immediate attention. He’ll certainly be back on the radar should he return significant profit against the Tigers.
Dzeko Fires Hat-Trick reminder
Edin Dzeko earned a hat-trick in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 3-0 victory over Group B opponents Andorra. The Manchester City frontman opened his account with an expertly struck 20-yard strike, before completing his trio of goals with two close-range efforts.
The Scout Says: Dzeko’s hat-trick certainly sends a timely message to Manuel Pellegrini. Despite recording two goals and three assists between Gameweeks 25 and 27, Dzeko was usurped in the following fixture by City’s £30 million new boy, Wilfried Bony. Since then, the pair have shared the right to partner Sergio Aguero in attack, although Bony’s first City goal in his start against West Brom last time out may well establish him ahead of Dzeko in the pecking order. The Bosnian’s clinical display on the international stage will give Pellegrini food for thought, however. It will be interesting to see if the City boss mixes things up again for the Gameweek 31 visit to Crystal Palace, given that the 4-4-2 setup failed miserably at Burnley in their previous road trip.
Sterling Hopeful For Gunners Meeting
Raheem Sterling will not travel with the England squad to Turin ahead of their friendly against Italy. Instead, the fleet-footed winger has returned to Liverpool to receive treatment in an attempt to be available for the Reds’ crunch tie against Arsenal. Speaking on his injury status and chances of featuring at the Emirates, Sterling revealed that he’s hopeful of starting after receiving an injection in his toe:
“It had been pre-agreed with the FA and obviously my club to get an injection after the game. I will receive some treatment back at the club and go from there. I will get this injection now and see how it goes in the next few days. Hopefully I will be okay for the Arsenal game”
Elsewhere in the Liverpool camp, Jordon Ibe is optimistic he’ll return to action before the season’s conclusion after returning to running following damage to his knee ligaments:
“I’m enjoying it and hopefully I can push on now, keep doing the gym sessions and hopefully get back into training soon and play again. I was a bit nervous coming back because I hadn’t been out on the grass for four weeks, but everything is going well. It was the ligament on the side of my knee and they said I could be out for six to eight weeks, but everything has gone smoothly from here and hopefully I can crack on now and get back in action. Things happen for a reason so hopefully I can just learn from this, build up the strength in my knee and come back stronger and hopefully be even better.”
The Scout Says: Sterling’s inclusion for the Gunners clash looks set to be crucial, not only to the Merseysiders’ aspirations of Champions League football but also to those Fantasy managers who have kept the faith – Sterling is without a goal or assist in his last three league starts. Amid reports that Daniel Sturridge could be facing up to a month on the sidelines with a torn hip muscle, Sterling will likely spearhead the Liverpool attack in his absence. Beyond the Arsenal meeting, a quartet of enticing match-ups against lower-table opposition (NEW, hul, wba, QPR) provide a platform for Sterling to return to the fore as a Fantasy target.
Ibe’s return to fitness could yet seem him emerge as a factor in our seasons. The 4.3 FPL prospect demonstrated huge potential before injury derailed his progress. Should he be back in contention for Liverpool’s run-in and potential double Gameweek (subject to the result of their FA Cup replay with Blackburn), he would doubtless be a consideration for the fifth midfield slot.
