Bacary Sagna limps out of France’s home clash with Serbia. Aleksandar Mitrovic grabs the visitors’ goal in a 2-1 defeat, Jon Walters and Kyle Lafferty stake a claim for domestic minutes with international goals, whilst Julian Speroni steps up his injury recovery with a run out for Palace reserves.
Walters Grabs Republic’s Winner
Jonathan Walters kept the Republic of Ireland’s automatic qualification hopes alive with a tap-in that granted Martin O’Neill’s outfit a 1-0 win over Georgia.
The Scout Says: After handing in a transfer request on deadline day, Walters will be hoping to return to first-team action this weekend as the Potters travel to Arsenal. The Gameweek 4 dismissals of Charlie Adam and Ibrahim Afellay certainly improve his prospects of a spot in the attacking midfield three. Mark Hughes could move Xherdan Shaqiri into the role in “the hole” to allow Walters a start on the right, though with the likes of Bojan and Stephen Ireland also in contention for the central berth, and Marko Arnautovic favourite for the left wing, Walters could be consigned to bench-warming duties yet again if Hughes chooses to field Shaqiri on the right for the third successive Gameweek.
Sagna Concern for City
After providing the assist for Blaise Matuidi’s opener, Bacary Sagna didn’t emerge for the second half of France’s win over Serbia after picking up an ankle knock in the first period.
The Scout Says: Over 120,000 Fantasy managers jumped on the Sagna bandwagon prior to the last two Gameweeks following news of Pablo Zabaleta’s knee injury absence. That 6.2% ownership will now be anxiously awaiting news on his fitness ahead of a trip to Crystal Palace, with £32 million summer signing Nicolas Otamendi likely to be handed his debut at Selhurst Park should the Frenchman fail to recover. Considering that City have yet to concede, Otamendi may initially take time to oust Eliaquim Mangala at centre-half, though the new boy’s versatility should allow him a first start as Manuel Pellegrini’s men look for a fifth successive clean sheet on Saturday.
Pulis Expects Berahino Return
Tony Pulis remains optimistic that Saido Berahino – despite insisting he would never don the Baggies strip again – will patch up his relationship with the club and return to action soon. The West Brom boss concedes he faces a tough task to get the England U21 international – who’s returned to training – back on board after his very public falling-out with Baggies chairman, Jeremy Peace:
“His gripe is with Jeremy – as far as I’m concerned, he will play for West Brom again. I want him to come back and to draw a line under it. It will be difficult to integrate him into the group and to get him to concentrate but that’s my job. I don’t think he will talk to Jeremy. The problem is that he thinks he is being used. I have spoken to Saido on the phone a couple of times and by text. He has had a couple of days away and hopefully that will clear his mind. On Monday I will have a good chat with him and then take him and his mum out for dinner in the evening to have a good chat. I think his tweet was aimed at the chairman more than the players, management, staff and supporters of the club.”
The Scout Says: Priced at 6.3 – and declining – Saido Berahino certainly possesses the ability to become a key contender at the price tag. Clearly, the first hurdle to overcome in the quest for viability will be selection; although Berahino is conceivably in line to start against Saints this weekend, Pulis may feel it sends out the wrong message to immediately reinstate him in the first XI. Secondly, the Baggies rank in the bottom six for shots inside the box (24), attempts on target (13) big chances (three) this term, which hardly encourages investment in their forward line. Nonetheless, West Brom’s excellent schedule leading up to Gameweek 12 (SOU, avl, EVE, cry, SUN, nor, LEI) ensures that we’ll be closely monitoring the West Midlanders’ – and Berahino’s – progress over that stretch.
Speroni steps up comeback
Julian Speroni played the full 90 minutes as Crystal Palace XI lost 3-2 to Huddersfield XI. The Argentine has been sidelined since the start of the season due to a hand injury.
The Scout Says: Speroni’s return to action has put Alex McCarthy’s 12% ownership on notice, with the budget shot-stopper facing the prospect of dropping out for the Eagles’ home tie against Manchester City. McCarthy played a pivotal part in Palace’s historic 2-1 triumph over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, rebuffing the Champions’ attack with seven saves, and his priced has risen from 4.0 to 4.1 as a result of Speroni’s absence. Providing he’s fully fit, though, the Argentine is likely to get the nod between the posts once again, leaving us without a single option in the sub-4.5 goalkeeper bracket.
Mitrovic Nets for Serbia
Newcastle frontman Aleksandar Mitrovic netted an instinctive close-range finish during Serbia’s 2-1 friendly defeat to France.
The Scout Says: Set to serve a three-match ban for a stamp on Arsenal’s Francis Coquelin, Mitrovic sits out a trip to West Ham United and back-to-back home ties (WAT, CHE), before potentially making his return when Newcastle travel to Manchester City in Gameweek 8. Only 20 years of age, the former Anderlecht marksman possesses an extraordinary proclivity for receiving bookings, having already tallied 47 yellow cards and six reds in his budding career. Mitrovic gave Fantasy managers food for thought in his first start of the campaign during Gameweek 3 – ranking joint-top for shots inside the box (four) among forwards – yet any enthusiasm in the 6.2-priced striker is ultimately tempered by his poor disciplinary record. Having been shifted to the bench in the last couple of matches, Papiss Cisse now looks set to lead the line against West Ham, Watford and Chelsea in Mitrovic’s absence.
Lafferty grabs draw for Ireland
Norwich’s Kyle Lafferty scored in the 93rd minute for Northern Island to earn his nation a 1-1 draw against Hungary in their Euro 2016 qualifier.
The Scout Says: Nursing an injury since June, Lafferty’s recovery furnishes Norwich boss Alex Neil with another alternative to the misfiring Cameron Jerome up front. Jerome’s failure to find the net in the first four Gameweeks saw the Canaries snap up Dieumerci MBokani from Dynamo Kiev on deadline day as Neil looks to improve upon a record that has seen them score just five of their 61 attempts on goal so far. Given that Lafferty was sent out on loan to Super Lig outfit Caykur Rizespor in February, though, he faces a tough task to climb up the pecking order and earns starts, bearing in mind that Neil prefers a lone striker system.
Central Midfield Boost for Pardew
James McArthur capitalised on a weak clearance from a corner during Scotland’s 3-2 defeat to Germany, firing in an equaliser from just inside the penalty area. Elsewhere in the Eagles camp, Yohan Cabaye was named among the subs for France having recuperated from a knock that he sustained last weekend.
The Scout Says: Buried beneath the wave of plaudits for Palace’s attacking contingent, McArthur has already matched his best assist haul (two) in the opening four Gameweeks this term. With no standout candidates in his price bracket, the 5.0-priced Scotland international is certainly worthy of a mention given that he ranks second among Palace’s midfielders – behind Jason Puncheon (nine) – for key passes (eight). His minimal goal threat (McArthur has fashioned zero shots at goal this campaign), however, serves as a deterrent, and with new boy Bakary Sako serving up 23 points in just two appearances, the former Wolves man – at just 5.5 – is starting to look the pick of the Palace midfield.
Ward-Prowse Nets Under 21s Winner
James Ward-Prowse helped England U21s kick off their Euro 2017 qualifying campaign with a win against Norway, scoring the only goal of the encounter from the penalty spot.
The Scout Says: Ward-Prowse has been used sparingly in the league by manager Ronald Koeman this term, with his first start arriving last weekend against Norwich City. In light of Victor Wanyama being omitted from the matchday squad as speculation mounted on his future at St Mary’s, the Saints academy product was deployed alongside Oriol Romeu in the double pivot – as opposed to a more familiar attacking midfield role. Koeman had high praise for the 20-year-old following his run-out against the Canaries, suggesting that Ward-Prowse’s intelligent distribution from deep could earn him further starts in that position. While he could well earn another outing next Gameweek against West Bromwich Albion, the return of Wanyama and the injured Jordy Clasie will provide fierce competition for places in the centre of the park.
