Sané plays up front as assets start returning to clubs

A whole host of Premier League players have completed their international break duties and are returning to their clubs.

That includes some key assets for Manchester City, Wolves and other clubs who play twice in Double Gameweek 32.

We’ve taken a look at how Sunday’s games might affect our Fantasy Premier League plans.

Netherlands 2-3 Germany

• Leroy Sané (£9.3m) – 90 minutes
• Virgil van Dijk (£6.6m) – 90 minutes
• Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.5m) – 90 minutes
• Antonio Rüdiger (£5.9m) – 90 minutes
• Ryan Babel (£5.5m) – 45 minutes
• Ilkay Gündogan (£5.4m) – 20 minutes
• Nathan Aké (£5.1m) – 0 minutes
• Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) – 0 minutes

Leroy Sané (£9.3m) confirmed he suffered no ill effects of the rough challenge on him during Germany’s draw with Serbia last week by playing 90 minutes against the Netherlands. He has now played 180 minutes across the international break, the maximum available to him, so it’s worth waiting to see if any of his wide midfield colleagues are treated to less pitch-time as it could provide clues to Pep Guardiola’s rotation plans.

On Sunday night, Sané was one of the key players for his country in a dramatic 3-2 win in Amsterdam. The Manchester City midfielder was actually deployed as a striker alongside Serge Gnabry which meant he was in the perfect central position to convert Nico Schulz’s 15th-minute cross. He did drift into more comfortable surroundings in the game though, his run into the left opening up space for Gnabry to score a sensational individual strike from outside the box.

It was not the first time this season that Virgil van Dijk (£6.6m) and Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.5m) were undone by Sané after he scored in Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Liverpool back in January. Both Reds players registered 90 minutes in this match, with the midfielder providing an assist for Memphis Depay’s equaliser.

Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rüdiger (£5.9m) was the only other Premier League player to record a 90-minute outing. Fulham’s Ryan Babel (£5.5m) was replaced at half-time and Ilkay Gündogan (£5.4m) got a 20-minute cameo. The 70-minute rest may see Guardiola happy to utilise him significantly in Double Gameweek 32.

Nathan Aké (£5.1m) and Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) were unused substitutes for Holland but manager Ronald Koeman admitted that he had intended to use the former in the wake of conceding a late goal that cost them a point.

“I wanted to bring in Nathan Aké for Quincy Promes to get the point. Maybe I should have done that.” – Ronald Koeman

Davy Pröpper (£4.8m) featured in Thursday’s win over Belarus but had to withdraw from the Netherlands squad with a “slight” injury and missed out on the clash with Germany.

Northern Ireland 2-1 Belarus

• Jonny Evans (£4.8m) – 90 minutes
• Craig Cathcart (£4.5m) – 90 minutes

Leicester City centre-back Jonny Evans (4.8m) was one of the heroes for Northern Ireland against Belarus as he opened the scoring in the 30th minute.

As one of his country’s key defenders, the former Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion man played 90 minutes alongside Watford centre-back Craig Cathcart (£4.5m).

The latter has now played 180 minutes across the international break, which does sow the seeds for potential rotation upon his return to Vicarage Road. The Hornets’ FA Cup semi-final takes place just a few days after their second Premier League fixture of Double Gameweek 32 and may be of bigger concern for manager Javi Gracia.

Wales 1-0 Slovakia

• Wayne Hennessey (£4.5m) – 90 minutes
• Ben Davies (£5.6m) – 90 minutes
• Chris Mepham (£4.5m) – 90 minutes
• Martin Dúbravka (£5.0m) – 90 minutes
• David Brooks (£5.1m) – 60 minutes
• Paul Dummett (£4.4m) – 0 minutes
• Daniel Ward (£4.3m) – 0 minutes

David Brooks (£5.1m) spent 60 minutes in a fluid attacking pair with Gareth Bale against Slovakia, which will have no doubt helped accelerated his development. The Bournemouth midfielder could have come away with a brace for Wales but fired wide on two occasions.

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey (£4.5m) made a case to reclaim his place from Vicente Guaita (£4.2m) with a string of impressive saves in goal for Wales. He played behind Bournemouth centre-back Chris Mepham (£4.5m) and opposite Newcastle shot-stopper Martin Dúbravka (£5.0m).

Paul Dummett (£4.4m) and Daniel Ward (£4.3m) were unused substitutes for Wales.

Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsey (£7.1m) did not feature for his country once again as he continues to struggle with a thigh injury. It ruled him out of the Trinidad and Tobago game and meant he couldn’t train ahead of this one.

“We hoped Aaron would make it but he has gone back to Arsenal. It’s a blow.” – Ryan Giggs

Hungary 2-1 Croatia

• Dejan Lovren (£4.9m) – 90 minutes
• Matteo Kovačić (£5.7m) – 0 minutes

It was a tough night for Liverpool centre-back Dejan Lovren (£4.9m) as Croatia were humbled by Hungary in Budapest. He played the full 90 minutes as the hosts scored twice.

Chelsea midfielder Matteo Kovačić (£5.7m) could not win a place in his country’s three-man central midfield line-up of Luka Modrić, Ivan Rakitić and Marcelo Brozović, remaining among the substitutes on the night.

Israel 4-2 Austria

• Marko Arnautovic (£6.9m) – 90 minutes
• Beram Kayal (£4.4m) – 72 minutes
• Sebastian Prödl (£4.2m) – 0 minutes

It was a mixed night for Marko Arnautovic (£6.9m) as Austria were defeated 4-2 by Israel. The result was not what he would have wanted but the West Ham man restored some personal confidence by netting a brace, scoring for the first time since January 5.

Watford centre-back Sebastian Prödl (£4.2m), who has just 13 Premier League minutes to his name this season, was an unused substitute for Austria.

Poland 2-0 Latvia

• Jan Bednarek (£4.0m) – 0 minutes

Jan Bednarek (£4.0m) played no part in Poland’s 2-0 win over Latvia after he was one of eight players to be struck down by a virus in the build-up to the match.

“Our medical staff are working quickly to ensure the virus doesn’t spread further. Jan Bednarek and Bartosz Bereszynski did not take part in today’s training session.” – Jerzy Brzeczek

Slovenia 1-1 FYR Macedonia

• Jon Stankovic (£3.9m) – 0 minutes

Huddersfield defender Jon Stankovic (£3.9m) was an unused substitute for Slovenia.

San Marino 0-2 Scotland

• Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) – 90 minutes
• Ryan Fraser (£6.2m) – 90 minutes
• Stuart Armstrong (£5.1m) – 71 minutes
• Callum Paterson (£4.9m) – 37 minutes
• Scott McTominay (£4.2m) – 33 minutes

Confidence will be low among the Scottish players even after winning 2-0 in San Marino. It was a poor performance against the worst international side in UEFA and should have seen Alex McLeish’s men rack up a glut of goals but they managed just two. Given the 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan just days before, there were still boos from travelling fans at half-time.

Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) and Ryan Fraser (£6.2m) were the only FPL assets to play the full 90 minutes, the latter picking up an assist for Kenny McLean’s opening goal.

Southampton’s Stuart Armstrong (£5.1m), deployed in the number 10 role, had two chances to score but saw both of them saved by goalkeeper Elia Benedettini.

Strangely, despite three recognised strikers on the bench, Callum Paterson (£4.9m) was deployed as the centre-forward, as he has been for Cardiff. He went off injured in the 37th minute and is now a doubt for Double Gameweek 32.

Cyprus 0-2 Belgium

• Jan Vertonghen (£5.9m) – 90 minutes
• Toby Alderweireld (£6.0m) – 90 minutes
• Leander Dendoncker (£4.3m) – 90 minutes
• Youri Tielemans (£6.0m) – 90 minutes
• Eden Hazard (£10.9m) – 90 minutes
• Michy Bathshuayi (£6.5m) – 89 minutes
• Christian Benteke (£6.3m) – 0 minutes
• Divock Origi (£5.0m) – 0 minutes
• Simon Mignolet (£4.7m) – 0 minutes

Eden Hazard (£10.9m) and Michy Bathshuayi (£6.5m) got some goal-scoring practice in for Double Gameweek 32 as they both found the net for Belgium on Sunday.

The Crystal Palace man led the Red Devils’ attack while Hazard was deployed behind him in an attacking midfield pair with Dries Mertens.

There was also a strong Premier League presence in midfield and defence with Jan Vertonghen (£5.9m), Toby Alderweireld (£6.0m), Leander Dendoncker (£4.3m), Youri Tielemans (£6.0m) all playing the 90 minutes.

The Wolves man has now registered 180 minutes across the international break amid suggestions of rotation ahead of the FA Cup semi-finals.

Christian Benteke (£6.3m), Divock Origi (£5.0m) and Simon Mignolet (£4.7m) were all unused substitutes.

Canada 4-1 French Guyana

• Junior Hoilett (£5.0m) – 90 minutes

Cardiff City winger Junior Hoilett (£5.0m) comes into Double Gameweek 32 with the boost of scoring in Canada’s 4-1 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying win over French Guyana.

Benin 2-1 Togo

• Steve Mounié (£5.8m) – 90 minutes
• Floyd Ayité (£4.3m) – 90 minutes

Huddersfield’s Steve Mounié (£5.8m) was the hero for Benin as they secured their qualification to the African Cup of Nations 2019.

He scored the winning goal against Togo, for whom Fulham’s Floyd Ayité (£4.3m) turned out for.