Scout Scribbles – Austin and Heaton Eye Returns

Charlie Austin and Tom Heaton step up their recoveries as we await news of Double Gameweek confirmation that will affect both their respective teams over the run-in.

Southampton were handed a boost after their top scorer Charlie Austin made a welcome returning to full training this week.

Despite failing to feature since Gameweek 19, the forward’s total of six goals is two strikes more than any team-mate this term. Discussing his lay-off with the club’s official website, Austinconceded:

“It’s been a frustrating time, being injured. It wasn’t like being out for two weeks – it’s been 14 weeks now.

I was in such good form and that was the hard thing, because I’d had to bide my time for ages to get in. It’s good to have that light at the end of the tunnel and this is the last tick in the box – it’s great to be back with the lads.

All the hard work I’ve done with the physios has paid off and hopefully, I can stay fit until the end of the season. Now I’m back, we’ve got a big eight weeks and I’ll put all my energy into helping the team drive forward to stay in the Premier League”.

Encouragingly for Austin, new manager Mark Hughes played with two up front in his first match in charge, last weekend’s FA Cup win over Wigan.

Now down to just 5.8 in FPL, Austin’s rate of 99.8 minutes per goal for the Saints in 2017/18 could now be set to turn heads in our Wildcards, with the Saints expected to be handed two Double Gameweeks over the remainder of the campaign.

On the downside, Hughes will be sweating over the availability of Ryan Bertrand after the left-back withdrew from England duties due to a back problem.

Heaton steps up recovery

Burnley’s Tom Heaton edged nearer a top-flight return this week with another appearance for Burnley reserves.

’I am back into full training on the grass as of last week and I have played a couple of reserve team games.

In the next week or so I am expecting to be back to 100 per cent and hopefully get back in the team.

Being back fit is the first marker and then trying to get back into the team is the next step.

Beyond that I still have ambitions of making the plane for the World Cup and there is a fair bit of water to go under the bridge yet. I am working every day with that ambition in mind.’

Heaton has failed to play since sustaining a dislocated shoulder in Gameweek 4, with Nick Pope benefitting from a first-team run in his absence.

However, with Heaton still hopeful of making the World Cup squad for this summer, we can expect the pair to job-share once he’s back in contention – hardly the best news for Pope’s 10.1% ownership.

The Clarets are one of a number of sides expected to be handed a double in Gameweek 34, with Matt Lowton (4.4) or Ben Mee (4.9) now looking the best bets as uncertainty gathers over their number one for the run-in.

Mahrez eases fears after training return

Riyad Mahrez shrugged off injury concerns ahead of Algeria’s clash with Tanzania today by returning to training yesterday.

The winger was initially rated a doubt for the fixture by his national manager, Rabah Madjer, after picking up a minor muscle problem during Leicester’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea last weekend.

However, Mahrez was then pictured back in full training after being assessed by Algeria medics.

Now up to fourth among FPL midfielders, the Foxes flier has produced a goal or assist in 11 of his last 14 league starts thanks to an improved run of form under Claude Puel.

The second most bought midfielder for the Gameweek, Mahrez has claimed over 50,000 new owners since the Gameweek 31 deadline passed. He faces Brighton and Newcastle in the next two rounds of fixtures and with a pair of expected Double Gameweek also to be factored in, is set to play a significant part in many Wildcard plans between now and the end of the season.

Zaha allays concerns

Wilfried Zaha left his 91,000+ new owners frustrated in Gameweek 31 after limping out of Crystal Palace’s win at Huddersfield with no more than three points to show for his 88-minute outing.

Having only just returned from injury, the Eagles’ flier played down concerns over another lay-off.

“To be honest, I was getting hacked down for at least ten minutes straight, so I felt my knee throbbing and instead of trying to play on it, I thought I might as well come off. Hopefully I can manage it well and it should be fine.”

Given that Roy Hodgson’s side are without a Double Gameweek, interest in the Eagles’ key assets is likely to be muted as we wield our Wildcards.

Yet following their upcoming home clash with Liverpool, Hodgson’s side clearly have the schedule to pick up the Fantasy points and seal their survival.

Zaha – who had scored or assisted in eight of 20 starts under Hodgson prior to last weekend – then faces Bournemouth, Brighton, Watford, Leicester, Stoke and West Brom in the final six rounds of fixtures.

Elsewhere….

The latest on Sergio Aguero’s fitness suggests that he remains on track for a return to contention for Manchester City’s Gameweek 32 encounter with Everton. Reports today have revealed that Aguero has continued his rehabilitation in Dubai and looks certain to sit out Argentina’s two friendlies with Spain and Italy over the break.

Across Manchester, United midfield pair Paul Pogba (hip) and Anthony Martial (toe) have both failed to train this week ahead of France’s pair of friendlies with Colombia and Russia.

Michail Antonio bagged a brace in West Ham’s 3-1 friendly win over Dagenham last night. David Moyes welcomed back Arthur Masuaku, who has missed the last six league matches through suspension, though the Hammers’ defensive prospects were dealt a blow after James Collins limped off before the half-hour mark.

Everton are another side nursing injury concerns for Gameweek 32. Mason Holgate withdrew from the England U21 squad to undergo minor ankle surgery, while Idrissa Gueye could be missing for three weeks with a muscle tear, according to the Senegal international manager. The combative midfielder has returned to Merseyside after being assessed and may miss crucial league encounters with Man City and Liverpool – not the best news for those without Wildcards who took a punt on Leighton Baines or Seamus Coleman for Gameweek 31.

Meanwhile, over at Anfield, Nathaniel Clyne stepped up his return from injury with a full 90-minutes for Liverpool’s U23’s on Wednesday as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough. Clyne’s return to contention adds to Jurgen Klopp’s options for the right-back role, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez already rotating in that position. Gomez got the nod in the Gameweek 31 run-out against Watford, though Alexander-Arnold had started the previous five Premier League matches. Clyne will be another with World Cup ambitions, a factor that could fuel his return to the teamsheet over the closing fixtures.