Scouting the Doubles – Gameweek 34 – Leicester City

Three Gameweeks ago, Leicester City languished at the foot of the table, seven points adrift of seventeenth-placed Sunderland. After an impressive trio of wins, the Foxes now only occupy a relegation berth by virtue of their inferior goal difference, laying the groundwork for a miraculous comeback. Nigel Pearson’s side now look to continue their ascent when they pay visit to Burnley and host Chelsea in their Gameweek 34 double.

The Prospects

With Fantasy managers naturally gravitating towards Chelsea and Liverpool coverage for the upcoming double – and Hull City presenting few viable prospects – Leicester players could turn out to be the key differentials when the dust has settled on Wednesday evening. A quartet of agreeable fixtures (NEW, SOU, sun QPR) rounds off their campaign, strengthening the Foxes’ case for investment.

Nigel Pearson’s men have discovered a new lease of life and attacking verve in recent weeks, tallying ten goals in the last four en route to nine points out of a possible 12. Their offense is flourishing, then, yet an injury to form forward David Nugent – that renders him touch-and-go for the Turf Moor clash – and a prevalence of unique scorers (seven) in their last four Gameweeks makes it difficult to pinpoint the candidates for strong points hauls.

Leicester travel to Burnley on Saturday in the first test of their double. Rooted to the bottom of the table, the Clarets recent form makes grim reading for their supporters, with just one victory to their name since Gameweek 21 – which, remarkably, arrived at home to champions Manchester City. In spite of facing six of the top seven teams in their previous eight, Sean Dyche’s troops have fared pretty well on the defensive front and conceded just nine goals. Conversely, their forward line has netted just twice, with top scorer Danny Ings drawing blanks in his previous eight starts – offering encouragement to those managers eyeing up recruits from Leicester’s defence.

Assuming Chelsea triumph over Arsenal on the weekend, the London club could seal the Premier League crown with a win over Leicester at the King Power Stadium. The Blues may have suffered from a spate of injuries up front in recent weeks but have been able to rely on Eden Hazard, who has netted five of his previous seven goals away from Stamford Bridge. Given that the Blues’ 12-match unbeaten streak has been founded upon a well-drilled rearguard that’s been breached on just seven occasions, Pearson’s attack face a tough task on Wednesday evening.

The Likely Lads

Jamie Vardy (4.6) appears to be the prime route into Leicester’s forward line in light of Nugent’s calf knock. The English frontman has tallied two goals and assists in his last four starts and mustered four shots on target in the last two Gameweeks – placing him sixth among all forwards over that time period. Moreover, only Bobby Zamora (five) engineered more chances than Vardy (four) over the last two.

Kasper Schmeichel (4.4) lays claims to just two clean sheets in his last 15 starts, though has tallied five save points in the previous three and secured a shut-out last Gameweek against Swansea City. Furthermore, Schmeichel boasts a better points per game average (2.6) than any Foxes defenders who’ve carded ten or more starts this term.

Notwithstanding an absence of attacking returns in his last 11 starts, Jeffrey Schlupp (4.5) offers a decent goal threat when fielded as a left wing-back in Nigel Pearson’s three-man backline. The Ghana international has bagged three goals this campaign and attempted more shots on goal (38) than any other defender among the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) roster.

Esteban Cambiasso’s wealth of experience has proved invaluable to Leicester of late, with the former Inter Milan stalwart accruing one goal and two assists in their last three encounters. Priced at 4.8, Cambiasso is the Foxes’ third-top scorer in the league (four goals) and could be a natural budget replacement in a five-man midfield.

The Cheeky Punts

Following a loan switch from Stoke City in January, Robert Huth (4.7) has quickly established himself as a mainstay in the East Midlanders’ defence. The Potters centre-back leads Leicester’s back line with regards to points per game average (3.1) and has amassed more shots at goal (nine) than any defender in the past six Gameweeks.

Like Huth, Wes Morgan (4.4) has made his imposing presence felt in the opposition’s penalty box, ranking second behind his team-mate in terms of shots (eight) in the last six Gameweeks. However, Morgan has managed to register half of these efforts on target, while the German international has tested the keeper on just one occasion.

Having started in Leicester’s last two fixtures, Marc Albrighton (4.2) appears to have usurped Riyad Mahrez on the right flank for the time being. Albrighton has produced more crosses and touches in the final third than any midfielder in the last three Gameweeks and his delivery out wide has quickly become a key weapon in the Foxes’ thriving attack.

With concerns over Nugent’s calf complaint, Leonardo Ulloa could be worth considering. The Argentine (4.9) has re-emerged as an option following a run of four successive starts and has chalked up a goal and assist in the last couple of matches.