Sunderland’s Steven Fletcher smells goals. Mauricio Pochettino looks to preserve his young full-back. Phil Jones could force a change in the United rearguard. Etienne Capoue’s injury halts the Spurs revolution, while Fulham’s Bryan Ruiz settles for a role on the flank.
Fletcher Promises Goals
Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher is keen to make up for lost time and add to the goal he scored on his comeback at the weekend. The Scottish striker returned in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace to notch after a five-month spell on the sidelines.
Fletcher has vowed to mimic his scoring spree on arriving in the North East which saw him notch five times in his first four starts for the Black Cats, whilst looking to establish a strike partnership with new recruit Jozy Altidore.
“Obviously we need goals in the team and if I can bring that, then that’s what I love to do. Jozy Altidore was out of the team on Saturday, it was disappointing that he was injured. But hopefully we can do well together.”
The Scout Says: Priced at just 7.4m in the FPL game Fletcher could be a potential bargain if, as he clearly hopes, he can emulate his previous goalscoring form. The fixture list is hardly kind to Sunderland and Fletcher, however, handing them meetings with Arsenal, Liverpool and United at the Stadium of Light in the next four Gameweeks. While Fletcher has remarked on a potential partnership with Altidore, the arrival of Fabio Borini in the transfer window casts doubt over that pairing with the former Liverpool and Swansea striker set to challenge for starts. Fantasy managers will surely be keeping their distance, given the schedule, in order to assess how Paolo Di Canio’s much changed lineup settles down.
Moyes Unsure On Jones Injury
While there are a string of the usual pre-international “injuries”, United’s Phil Jones looks a genuine concern ahead of Gameweek 4. Deployed at right-back for United’s opening fixtures with Rafael sidelined due to a hamstring problem, Jones was forced off with an ankle complaint in the 1-0 defeat at Anfield after 37 minutes. David Moyes gave little detail on the extent of the injury post-match as Jones was immediately withdrawn from England’s qualifiers.
The Scout Says: While Jones will be targeting a centre-back role this term, he has settled at right-back in the absence of Rafael. Fantasy managers have, to this point, ignored the United backline but with fixtures improving considerably in the coming Gameweeks, Jones and his rearguard team-mates are set to arrive on our radars. To this point, Moyes has played the same defensive quartet in each match – pairing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in the centre with Patrice Evra at left-back. With Jones a potential absentee for the home clash with Palace and Rafael still struggling, we could now see Chris Smalling earn a start. Smalling is available for just 5.3 and would be a clear short-term option for the Gameweek.
Spurs Lose Capoue For A Month
Tottenham’s defensive midfielder Etienne Capoue faces four weeks on the sidelines after suffering an ankle sprain against Arsenal on Sunday. The recent signing from Toulouse was taken to hospital to see an ankle specialist immediately after being substituted after 72 minutes.
The Scout Says: Capoue’s absence will be a blow to manager Andre Villas-Boas’ rebuilding programme at the Lane. After impressing on his full debut against Swansea, the French international looked to be building an effective midfield three with Brazilian Paulinho and Mousa Dembele. Sandro’s return from a long injury lay off gives Villas Boas a ready-made replacement, however, as mentioned in yesterdays “This Much We Know”, with both Christian Eriksen and Eric Lamela now available as options, a re-shuffle in formation, as well as personnel, looks on the cards. It could be a few weeks before Fantasy managers can be sure on just how the Spurs lineup will settle, allowing for an assessment of the options on offer.
Pochettino Keen to Protect Shaw
Mauricio Pochettino has stated that he wants left-back Luke Shaw to withdraw from England’s Unuder-21 squad as doubts over his fitness continues. Shaw was only fit enough for the bench for the trip to Norwich with Danny Fox given the nod in the Saints defence.
The Scout Says After making a sparkling first start at West Brom, Shaw’s early season has been derailed by a knee injury. He was withdrawn in the 1-1 draw with Sunderland and was preserved at Carrow Road at the weekend. Pochettino is clearly keen to wrap Shaw in cotton wool in preparation for the home clash with West Ham which is a good sign for the left-back’s Fantasy owners frustrated by his recent lack of pitch time. Shaw earned almost 150,000 new owners prior to Gameweek 2 with his price rising to 4.7.
Ruiz Happy With Right Wing Role
Fulham’s Bryan Ruiz is hoping to secure a starting XI place after shifting to the right wing to accommodate new on-loan striker Darren Bent. The Costa Rican international was handed his first start of the season against Newcastle at the weekend in a new look attacking line up, as Dimitar Berbatov supported Bent with Alex Kacaniklic on the left flank. Whilst Ruiz was targeting more goals prior to this season, he seems more than happy deployed out wide:
“I was pleased to be back in the first XI but I need to get my rhythm and play more minutes. That will get my confidence up 100 per cent. I felt comfortable on the right, I am happy to play there and I saw a lot of the ball.”
The Scout Says: Cottagers boss Martin Jol will be hoping the acquisition of Bent will at last give Fulham the attacking verve they have missed, arguably since Clint Dempsey departed. While Ruiz’s versatility to play on the right of midfield is set to significantly improve his playing time given this new competition from Bent, it severely dents his Fantasy potential as it makes him a reverse out of position prospect. It also remains to be seen whether this is a line up Jol persists with given Fulham’s lacklustre display. Fulham’s fixtures in the weeks to come suggest that Jol’s side may emerge as a source of mid-price talent. Three favourable home matches with West Brom, Cardiff and Stoke give Fulham the opportunity to kick-start their season, with Bent potentially establishing himself as a Fantasy target up front. The Villa loanee can be acquired for just 6.5 in the FPL.
