Dugout Discussion

Vestergaard returns as Minamino makes Southampton debut

Southampton take to the field at Newcastle with some welcome boosts following their 9-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Fresh from a horrendous defensive display, their most important centre-back, Jannik Vestergaard (£4.7m) is finally back in the starting line-up for the first time since Gameweek 14.

The Danish international has struggled with a knee problem during the winter and is sure to improve the Saints’ defensive prospects as he features alongside Jan Bednarek (£4.9m), whose one-match ban was overturned midweek.

Vestergaard’s return sees Jack Stephens (£4.6m) push out to the right-back berth where Southampton have had some problems this season. Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.7m) is still not fit enough to be involved today.

But defence is not the only area where Ralph Hasenhüttl has been handed good news as Takumi Minamino (£6.0m) is ready to feature for the first time since leaving Anfield on loan in the transfer window.

He is stationed on the flanks of midfield, with Nathan Redmond (£6.4m) on the other side, in support of centre-forward pairing Danny Ings (£8.4m) and Che Adams (£5.8m).

Newcastle’s own January loanee Joe Willock (£4.7m) also makes his Premier League debut for his new club, his arrival allowing Steve Bruce to go for a more adventurous shape than usual.

Willock sits in a number 10 role with Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.1m) and Miguel Almirón (£5.6m) either side of him in a 4-2-3-1 fronted by Callum Wilson (£6.8m).

The Magpies are somewhat short at the back though. Midfielder Isaac Hayden (£4.7m) starts alongside Fabian Schär (£4.9m) at centre-back.

Double Gameweek planners will have their eyes on the other 3pm match today as Burnley host Brighton.

As expected, the Clarets are in 4-4-2 formation with key Fantasy targets Nick Pope (£5.5m), Ben Mee (£5.0m), James Tarkowski (£5.3m) and Matt Lowton (£4.4m) all involved.

Charlie Taylor (£4.4m) is still not fit enough for a return and neither is Chris Wood (£6.2m), both players absent from today’s match-day squad, which means Erik Pieters (£4.3m) is at left-back again and Ashley Barnes (£6.0m) is paired up-front with Matej Vydra (£4.8m).

On a run of four successive clean sheets, Brighton are in 3-4-2-1 today with Dan Burn (£4.2m) and Joël Veltman (£4.3m) in the left and right wing-back roles respectively following Solly March‘s (£5.0m) injury at Anfield.

Gameweek 23 Starting Line-ups

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Pope; Pieters, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; Gudmundsson, Cork, Westwood, McNeil; Vydra, A Barnes.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (3-4-1-2): R Sánchez; Webster, Dunk, White; Burn, Bissouma, Groß, Veltman; Mac Allister; Maupay, Connolly.

Newcastle United XI (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Lewis, Schär, Hayden, Manquillo; Shelvey, Hendrick; Saint-Maximin, Willock, Almirón; Wilson.

Southampton XI (4-4-2): A McCarthy; Bertrand, Vestergaard, Bednarek, J Stephens; Minamino, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Redmond; Ings, Adams.

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1,274 Comments Post a Comment
  1. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Both Pope and Salah 6 returns of 9 points + to date.

    Points per million!!

  2. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Krafth yc. Just a single.

  3. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    ASM is quite fun to watch when you don't own him.

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He was awesome before Covid, glad he's finally recovered at upt to speed.

  4. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Almiron goal

  5. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    3-1 Newcastle

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Fog on the Tyne is all...

  6. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Almiron G

  7. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Almiron haul!

  8. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Oh Southampton...what a shambles they are

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The gift that keeps on gifting...

      He passed it to him then didn't tackle.

      Bertrand.

      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        it's comical but also tragic

    2. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Shame my -4 to bring in Wilson didn't work out.

  9. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy get some save at least before i kick u out ya clown!

  10. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Southampton are terrible

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      They aren’t ; but some terrible individual errors

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

      McCarthy is! Newcastle's second goal was ridiculous, he just kicked it anywhere and it deflected in

  11. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Almiron goal

  12. SH1M1
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy needs dropping

  13. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Southampton= banter fc

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Things you love to see!

      A bit of an edge from these 1 nils

  14. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Get Forster starting for the DGWs!!!

  15. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Almiron brace

  16. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy ain't good enough

  17. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    9-1 incoming

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mike Dean on at the half?

  18. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Konsa to Mee went well aha

    1. Rash
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Targett to mee here

  19. deshawn7
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Benched Watkins instead of Wilson. Thanks scout picks :/

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would have been a good pick if not for the injury given Sotons form - just unlucky

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

    3. Yozzer
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You are playing your game based on what people tell you to do? .Then moan when it goes wrong? Lesson to be learnt there my friend 🙂

    4. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      why oh why ?

  20. mezza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Feel sorry for Wilson owners. He was a good pick.

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I dont

      they've had jammy 9 pointers in games where Newcastle had about 3% possession

  21. Call Me Old Fashioned
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Got Martinez for Johnstone.

    Worth going McCarthy to Areloa for DGW?

  22. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy in goal plus Wilson. Screw you FPL!

  23. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    you never know what can happen this season but double leeds attack seems like a great idea gw25

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Raphinha and Bamford?

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        yes, I have raphinha and will do wilson to bamford

  24. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    135 mins.
    12 goals
    Against

    Guess the club?

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Southampton ?

    2. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      great to chat

      fantastic forum this is, so much discussion

  25. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy destorying my season

    HATE to see it

  26. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can't wait to bin my keepers, no CS in 7 GWs from them

  27. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Overall leader started Mee over Cancelo, Dias and Bilva. Maybe we've hope!

  28. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hasenhutl doing a good job to never get into a top 6 club!

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      breaking all the wrong records

    2. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The players are doing it deliberately to keep him at the club

  29. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Took out Almiron at the last minute in FanTeam daily as double Newcastle attack felt too much. Glad I kept Wilson though.

  30. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    WE WANT NINE