Differential options on offer among budget midfielders

We have gone fifth-midfielder-crazy when it comes to differentials this week.

There are now a wealth of potential options around the £4.5m mark in the middle of the park ahead of Gameweek 22, all of which are owned by less than 5% of Fantasy managers.

With some looking to create the perfect Wildcard squad for the second half of the season, and others looking to restructure, these cheaper options could offer decent value this weekend and further ahead.

Dwight McNeil

Price: £4.4m

Ownership: 0.1%

Owned by just 0.1%, Burnley midfielder Dwight McNeil (£4.4m) is about as differential an option as you will ever see in Fantasy Premier League.

The 19-year-old winger has recently broken into the Clarets’ team starting the last two matches. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£5.6m) and Aaron Lennon (£4.9m) are still facing injury struggles which means he should keep his place on the left, especially with Robbie Brady (£5.4m) now suspended for the next three matches.

McNeil has not wasted any time in making himself useful to Sean Dyche scoring against West Ham in Gameweek 20 and assisting at Huddersfield last time out.

Those attacking returns have come from some impressive underlying statistics too, suggesting he could sustain his form.

The Burnley man has had a shooting chance every 25.5 minutes in his two starts so far, registering more efforts in the penalty box than Mohamed Salah (£13.3m), Eden Hazard (£11.1m) and Raúl Jiménez (£6.4m) in that time.

With the obliging Fulham defence up next for the Clarets, McNeil will have a strong chance of more attacking returns in Gameweek 22. With Watford and Southampton also coming up soon for Burnley, there is long-term appeal and his price makes him benchable when facing Manchester United in Gameweek 24. Furthermore, if Spurs beat Chelsea to earn a place in the League Cup final, then McNeil won’t have a fixture in Gameweek 27, again less of a problem because of his price.

Víctor Camarasa

Price: £4.6m

Ownership: 2.8%

Cardiff City midfielder Víctor Camarasa (£4.6m) was close to being chosen for the Scout Picks this week but we erred on the side of caution considering his current yellow flag.

However, he could still provide plenty of value as a differential over the next few weeks as Neil Warnock believes the Spaniard’s problem is not serious.

If Camarasa does play against Huddersfield this week he is likely to be deployed through the middle, where the Terriers are most susceptible to conceding chances.

David Wagner’s men have allowed more big chances in the last four Gameweeks than any other side, and only three have conceded more opportunities through the centre.

Camarasa looks likely to be involved in any goals scored against Huddersfield as he has created seven chances in the last four Gameweeks and tried five shots of his own. His role in set pieces and the fact he is designated penalty-taker for Cardiff mean he has several aspects to his appeal.

Matches against Newcastle, Bournemouth, Southampton and Watford, are all on the horizon too, all of whom have struggled with clean sheets of late. Even the Gameweek 24 trip to Arsenal could yield attacking returns considering the Gunners’ defensive problems of late.

Alex Pritchard

Price: £4.8m

Ownership: 0.1%

Sticking with the Gameweek 22 clash at the Cardiff City Stadium we’ve also picked out Huddersfield midfielder Alex Pritchard (£4.8m).

Neil Warnock’s Cardiff have seriously struggled to defend set pieces this season, with no side allowing more chances from such situations in the last four Gameweeks than them.

Eight of Huddersfield’s 13 Premier League goals in 2018/19 have come from set plays, which is a whopping 61%, more than any other club. For that reason, Wagner will surely use them to his advantage.

With Aaron Mooy (£5.1m) still out, those duties will likely be handed to Pritchard once again, giving him the chance to punish Cardiff on Saturday afternoon.

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