Our series of “Sleeper” articles, focussing on players who failed to live up to our expectations in the previous season, continues with a look at Norwich City number one, John Ruddy. Despite a twelfth place finish in Paul Lambert’s final term in charge at Carrow Road, Norwich’s defence were particularly culpable and shipped 66 goals over the campaign – given that only the three relegated clubs conceded more, the Canaries backline assets remained in the cut-price bracket when the players lists were rolled out across the Fantasy games last summer:

With the somewhat cautious Chris Hughton installed to the hotseat, Fantasy managers were optimistic of an upturn in defensive potential. Ruddy had delivered a total of three sheets across 2011/12 due to Lambert’s attack-minded brand of football but the Canaries did little to indicate they’d be a source of defensive returns after shipping five to Fulham and Liverpool in the opening six Gameweeks.

As the season unfolded, though, and with the acquisition of centre-half Seb Bassong from Tottenham a key factor, Norwich started to pick up in performance. Between Gameweek 8 and 13, Hughton’s side began to grind out the results and conceded just two goals in six games, with clean sheets accrued against the likes of Arsenal and United, as well as Stoke and Reading.

Ruddy returned a double figure display in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game against United in Gameweek 12 thanks to six saves and a couple of bonus points in a 1-0 home win but just as he was starting to prosper, disaster struck after a thigh injury – sustained in the following match against Everton – ruled out the stopper for a number of months. Sidelined for virtually the rest of the season, Ruddy’s absence saw 4.0 priced deputy Mark Bunn nailed-on between December and April, though the former’s return to the first-team fold in Gameweek 37 proved vital. Finally match-fit after a number of reserve appearances, he helped the Canaries to a 4-0 win over West Brom which not only produced a first clean sheet in eight attempts but, far more crucially, helped the Canaries clinched top-flight survival for yet another season.

The Prospects

While Ruddy’s injury hampered his chances over 2012/13, his overall lack of game time should prove significant when Fantasy games roll out next season’s price lists. With just 15 appearances in Hughton’s first term at the helm, it seems unfeasible Ruddy will increase in cost and should remain accordingly at a budget 4.5 in the FPL game – a scenario that will undoubtedly bring him onto Fantasy radars for the campaign ahead.

The Canaries mustered a total of 10 clean sheets last time round – only one less than West Ham, for example – but while the Hammers delivered six at home and five on the road, Hughton’s side were a lot more predictable, with eight of those clean sheets arriving at home. Certainly, this Carrow Road form bolsters Ruddy’s appeal for 2013/14 – Norwich lack of resilience on the road means finding a budget rotation partner will be key, though it’s worth noting that Ruddy’s heroics between the sticks earned him 13 save points across those 15 appearances; another factor that will heighten his Fantasy potential next time round.

Given that last season’s budget favourites Jussi Jaaskelainen and Asmir Begovic can be expected to move to around the 5.5 mark, our assessment of the goalkeeping landscape is set to shift focus in 2013/14. Providing he can remain injury-free, then, Ruddy seems nailed on under Hughton and if the Canaries can replicate their home displays of last term, he could be a real value option at the back. Bearing in mind that Bassong, Russell Martin and Michael Turner also chipped in with three goals apiece, the Norwich backline look set for a slight upturn in price across the Fantasy games, leaving Ruddy as the standout option amongst Hughton’s defensive charges for the season ahead.