The international break starts with some mixed defensive news for Chelsea, while the in-form Riyad Mahrez helps steers Algeria to victory.
Denmark’s 1-0 win over Panama – one of England’s World Cup opponents – was achieved without Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen.
The versatile defender has returned to Stamford Bridge after missing out last night, with his national manager, Age Hareide, playing down the severity of his injury:
“Andreas Christensen has been sent home to London. We do not want to take any risks with him. I cannot say exactly what is wrong with Christensen, but it is a little fatigue. It’s not serious, but it can be. It is a bit frustrating because we would have liked to trial him in both central defence and as a defensive midfielder.”
Priced at just 5.3 in Fantasy Premier League, interest in Christensen is on the rise as the cheapest route into a defence that is one of just six set to play twice in Gameweek 34, with the Blues travelling to Southampton and Burnley.
Antonio Conte could, however, have David Luiz back in contention for the Gameweek 32 home encounter against Spurs on April 1, with the Brazilian stepping up his recovery from an ongoing knee problem.
Returning to the Denmark match, the usual FPL suspects of Christian Eriksen and Kasper Schmeichel started for the Danes, while Huddersfield centre-half Mathias Jorgensen was also handed a rare international appearance and his club colleague, Jonas Lossl, was on the bench.
Eriksen is likely to be in the plans of many an FPL manager as Spurs have an upcoming Double Gameweek 34 involving Man City at home and a trip to Brighton, as well as another double probably taking in a trip to West Brom and a visit from Newcastle.
But any of his 14.5% ownership watching yesterday’s match would have been dismayed to discover the Panamanians in combative mode for what was meant to be a friendly, as Hareide alluded to post-match.
“You play a friendly, especially between two teams that will play in the World Cup, and you take it a little bit more easy – but I think that’s their style and the referee has to decide about that.”
Eriksen survived and was replaced after 64 minutes for purely tactical reasons, while the 4.7% who own Schmeichel were at risk of losing their man to serious injury when he was the victim of a studs-first challenge to the midriff from Blas Pérez that narrowly missed connecting with the Leicester man’s face.
Pérez was sent off, the Danes won and all ended well, with Denmark back in action on Tuesday against Chile.
As for Panama, they’re also playing again that day against Switzerland, so the 12.6% of managers with Xherdan Shaqiri in their squads will no doubt be grateful that their man is missing the international break with a minor calf issue.
Vokes shines as Bale makes hay
Burnley striker Sam Vokes scored one goal and set up two more as Wales cruised to a 6-0 win over China.
His turn was not the star one, however, as a Gareth Bale hat-trick confirmed the Real Madrid man as his country’s all-time record goalscorer.
Then again, Vokes is used to playing second fiddle at club level as well – he’s currently third in the attacking pecking order at Burnley behind in-form duo Ashley Barnes (three goals in as many Gameweeks) and Chris Wood (three in two).
The Clarets’ schedule (wba wat LEI CHE) includes a double in Gameweek 34 that is prompting interest in their assets, yet despite his fine 63-minute performance yesterday, Vokes’ role as a bit-part player under Sean Dyche will ensure we steer clear.
New Wales manager Ryan Giggs also handed starts to Wayne Hennessey, Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Joe Allen and Andy King, with the latter providing an assist.
Spurs full-back Davies (23.2%) and the 2.0%-owned Stoke City man Allen played 70 and 63 minutes respectively, the others the full 90.
All are likely to be back in action for the final of the China Cup on Monday, when they will play the winners of today’s other semi-final between Uruguay and the Czech Republic.
Elsewhere…
Gabon and Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is missing his country’s Long’s Cup duties in Bangkok as his grandmother has passed away.
The 8.3%-owned striker has been attracting a lot of FPL interest as the Gunners’ schedule (STK SOT new WHU) includes a fixture in the reduced Gameweek 35 slate and Europa League ineligibility makes him virtually nailed-on for league duty.
On the flip side, the news that Arsenal do not have a double in Gameweek 34 has dampened some of the enthusiasm in their key assets.
Meanwhile, Leicester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez (10.7%) is another in many managers’ Wildcard plans on the back of a good set of fixtures (bha NEW bur SOT) that includes two matches in Gameweek 34.
Indeed, since yesterday’s confirmation of the Double Gameweek 34, he is the fifth most bought player in the last 24 hours.
The winger’s fine domestic form – he has two goals and an assist from his last two Gameweeks – was carried into the international break as he set up two of Algeria’s strikes in a 4-1 friendly win over Tanzania.
Mahrez recovered from a slight muscle issue to play the full 90 minutes yesterday and is expected to be back in action again on Tuesday, away in Iran.
