Dugout Discussion

Leicester back to full strength as Vardy and co return for Newcastle clash

With Burnley v Fulham postponed yesterday, the first Premier League fixture of the day sees Newcastle United entertain Leicester City at St James’ Park.

Kick-off on Tyneside is at 14:15 GMT.

After handing breathers to many of his first-team regulars in the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace last Monday, Brendan Rodgers reverts to a full-strength side this afternoon.

There are seven changes in all, with Kasper Schmeichel (£5.5m), James Justin (£5.0m), Jonny Evans (£5.5m) and Harvey Barnes (£6.8m) the only players to keep their places.

Among the returnees are James Maddison (£7.1m) and Wesley Fofana (£5.0m), who have recovered from minor knee injuries, and Jamie Vardy (£10.2m), the most-owned player on show in today’s game.

Timothy Castagne (£5.7m), Youri Tielemans (£6.4m), Marc Albrighton (£5.3m) and Wilfred Ndidi (£4.8m) are also recalled.

Rodgers’ opposite number, Steve Bruce, has made two changes for the Foxes’ visit.

One of them is enforced as Sean Longstaff (£4.7m) comes into midfield in place of Isaac Hayden (£4.7m), who serves a one-match ban after collecting five yellow cards.

Miguel Almiron (£5.6m) replaces Jacob Murphy (£4.9m) on the wing in the Magpies’ other alteration from their goalless draw with Liverpool.

Fantasy interest in the hosts mainly centres around Callum Wilson (£6.5m), who is the only Newcastle player owned by more than 3% of managers.

Along with Wilson and Vardy, Leicester full-back Justin is the only other player on show with a double-digit ownership.

The versatile youngster is now FPL’s most-owned defender, sitting in just over 25% of squads.

Rodgers’ troops have generally been better on the road this season, with 19 of their 29 points arriving in away fixtures.

Four of Vardy’s five double-digit hauls, indeed, have come outside of Leicester.


Newcastle United XI: Darlow, Yedlin, Fernandez, Schar, Clark, Ritchie, S Longstaff, M Longstaff, Almiron, Joelinton, Wilson.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Justin, Fofana, Evans, Castagne, Ndidi, Tielemans, Albrighton, Maddison, Barnes, Vardy.


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1,401 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Finally Werner Pulisic and Ziyech start together. This will going to be joy to watch

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Oh you sweet summer child...

    2. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      2-0 chelsea win inc...

  2. Sid1891
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ziyech back is squad could be differential in DGW, pending todays performance

  3. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Party pen goal needed to match penarry.. Cmon Son grab one...

  4. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mahrez so far far down in the pecking order...

    1. squits
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      What happened to make him so out of favour? He got a hattrick not that long ago

      1. riot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Nobody knows

      2. ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Could play reserves and anyone would do well vs Burnley that game.

    2. L'Aeroplanino
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      ever since that miss vs united

    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Blatantly starts all 3 games in the blank and double week for ultimate troll points

  5. YuvalFPL
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Afternoon all

    Would you free hit this team? 1 FT and £1.9m in the bank.

    Martinez (Nyland)
    Dias Mitchell (Balbuena, Robertson, Ayling)
    Bruno, Rashford, Martinelli (Salah, Soucek)
    Kane (Adams, Bamford)

    Can get to 9 players with a hit which feels like enough. Balbuena has really scuppered my BB team and confused matters.

    All depends on whether KDB is a must for the blank & double. Will definitely bring Cancelo in.

    All replies appreciated!

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Balbuena to Stones and abandon the BB idea.

      1. YuvalFPL
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks. I think I need to forget about it. Will be easier to BB after the next WC.

        Was actually considering removing Ayling for a city defender on the off chance Balbuena comes back in.

        Ayling is a horrible pick, despite the double.

  6. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I need Mahrez to stay on the bench to get Soucek.

    What do you recon?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Odds not in your favour with who is on City's bench.

  7. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Aguero not an option for either BGW or DGW

    1. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Doesn’t look like

    2. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      r u asking or telling ?

      1. Brehmeren
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Telling

        1. pundit of punts
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          This

    3. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      What if he come on and bags a brace?

    4. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Was never an option

      1. FPL.team
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Agüero is always an option when fit.

  8. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Leicester and Vardy have been by far the luckiest team and player of the season

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      WIlson owners say hello

  9. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Don't laugh but I am seriously considering a Man C double up including Gundogan.

    1. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      For my FH in GW 18

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Not a bad punt

        1. Milk, 1 Šuker
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Ta

    2. Aj Royals
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That's a good option (Gundogan) and was thinking on that

  10. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pulisic - Werner - Ziyech has returned. Can see a very strong performance today, Hakim is crucial to them. With a juicy DGW coming up too...

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Can see him scoring if city's back up keeper isn't up to scratch, loves a shot from distance

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Another Foden wagon would be lovely ahead of DGW

    3. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      FH18 draft. What would you change?

      Lloris
      Cancello Dias Tierney
      Bruno KDB Rashford Son Saka
      Kane Wilson
      4.0 Mitchell Yelling 4.5

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I prefer a Newcastle gk/defender instead of Wilson

      2. puhd
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Good, similar to kind, only I’ve got Leno for Lloris, Dier for Tierney, Grealish for Rash and Laca for Wilson

        1. Rinseboy
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I don't want Grealish against Spurs. He's great but this is one of theworst fixtures he could have I recon!

      3. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Most of it haha.

        I'm getting double City attack probably and triple United.

        1. Rinseboy
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          ha fair enough was a first draft. Not fancying Kane and Son double up? I'm in two mind over it

          1. Camzy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            It's Villa away. I'm not loving the match-up personally. But yeah maybe I keep Kane and drop Son.

            1. Camzy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Currently on:

              Leno
              Stones Tierney Shaw
              KdB Sterling Fernandes Grealish Saka
              Kane Martial
              (Lewis sole playing fodder)

              1. Rinseboy
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                like that. I personally am gonna go without Grealish I think Spurs are just too good at the back and I don't see a big haul from Jack

              2. Mr. O'Connell
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Like it. What would you settle for points wise from

                Shaw, Martial and Saka?

                1. Camzy
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 2 months ago

                  Dunno I don't really think like that. I pick the best players I can and the points will come.

      4. Garlana
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Looks good but still not sold on arsenal defence. Zaha will do well against them i imagine.

      5. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        cheers all back to the drawing board. Think ill lose Wilson for sure and maybe one of the spurs lads

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          With the addition of the United game, there's plenty permutations.

          Mine is

          Darlow
          Clark, Fernandez, Cancelo
          Bruno (c), Rashford, Sterling, Mahrez, Saka
          Kane, Laca

          Tierney, Holgate (Steele, Davis)

          Blades don't have the strikeforce of Foxes so the toon defence can stay, but rethinking Mahrez.

          1. Rinseboy
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I'm not sure my heart could handle watching triple toon army at the back boy! brave tho!

          2. Rinseboy
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Tierney on the bench?!!!

    4. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I know I spent hardly any time in my team this week, but in what world did I think Wilson was a better choice than Soucek?!

    5. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      This relatively new thing were players stay down on the ground motionless as if they are dead to make the ref blow the whistle for non head injuries really needs to be cracked down on somehow...

    6. Forgetmeknot
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      On paper, whose team do you prefer City of Chelsea?

      I think for the first time in a while City don’t have the best players

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        As a cold-blooded prediction, I believe Chelsea will win this.

        2-0 my prediction

      2. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        City have a better team than Chelsea

    7. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No Walker, Jesus, Garcia, Ederson, Torres or Doyle

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Unlucky Doyle owners

      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        But also no Ake or Laporte which is odd. There are a lot of guys missing.

    8. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Steffen Gross Koch

    9. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy assist ruining the GW. Casuals are relentless

    10. Party time
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Tell me you like to Party 🙂

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I do

          1. Party time
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Yeeaahh

          2. WVA
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I hate it

          3. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Don’t tell Boris that

        2. Duke Silver ☑
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          As someone said previously, Pep rotates his team so much that we may never know who the lads with covid actually were.

          1. Danno - Emre Canada
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Well, you know it’s not any of the people in the squad today eh

        3. marcos11
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Werner a good option for dgw if he continues to play up front?

          Could go Dcl Son > Werner Grealish

        4. FPLtfs
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Stones and Cancelo both starting. Bye bye Soucek points. Stones coming in for Wood in my case.

          1. aborg
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Stones could always get a cs and Max bps

        5. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Newcastle goal please

          1. WVA
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            They should of had a penalty already

          2. CBonci
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I’m hoping

        6. Peter Ouch
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          If I make my 1 ft and play my FH, will it be on my team on GW19?

          1. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            No but glad you asked

        7. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Come on Taylor Harwood-Bellis!! My differential pick!

        8. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Hold Justin you hero hooooooolddd

          1. WVA
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I had Justin all season but sold him before Spurs against whom he got 8 points and continued to rise in price rapidly

        9. Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Newcastle vs Sheffield has the potential to be the worst match of the season

        10. Vazza
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          How important is it to put Salah back in the week after removing him for KDB for the BGW?

          1. BenDavies
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Very important. Both games at Anfield. Loves a game against United and Burnley collapse against the big teams away. Essential.

          2. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            No hurry

          3. L'Aeroplanino
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            suicidal

          4. Bram
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Only 2 home games ......

        11. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Lamps finally playing what should be his first choice front 3.

          Still missing Havertz though. Either him or Ziyech in behind, the other one the RW (assuming he continues to be stubborn and persist with the 433)

        12. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Not owning Justin this season has been a pain

          1. CBonci
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I second this. My ML rival has had him for weeks and it’s very painful.

          2. Mr. O'Connell
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I don't think I've got a green arrow when he's got points. Can't be a coincidence.

          3. AzzaroMax99
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Me too. I need that cs wipped and Vardy scoring for a victory then xD

          4. Flair
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Pereira was supposed to return in GW4 lmao

          5. YuvalFPL
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I took him and Chilwell out for Robbo and Balbuena a few weeks ago.

            Just horrific.