Fantasy Premier League

Scout Selection: Strikers spark 4-4-2 return

By The Scout 31 Jan 2017
Harry Kane scores against West Brom

The Scout spends big to put faith in Harry Kane and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to provide goal power for the Gameweek 23 line-up

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After producing a modest 40 points last time out, the Gameweek 23 line-up turns to a pair of big guns up front to inspire an improvement.

Opting for a pricey but prolific trio that have so far delivered 42 goals over the season, the teamsheet shifts to a 4-4-2 and looks to exploit value options in defence.

Tom Heaton - Burnley - £5.0m
The Clarets skipper makes a return to our line-up ahead of a Turf Moor encounter with Leicester City. With double-figures against Southampton in his last home outing, Heaton has shipped only nine goals in 11 matches in front of the Burnley faithful.

Laurent Koscielny - Arsenal - £6.5m
Rested from FA Cup duty, the Frenchman is an assured starter in a Gunners backline hosting Watford at the Emirates Stadium. The Hornets have scored four goals in the previous seven Gameweeks, while the Arsenal back four have conceded only twice in their last four home matches.

Charlie Daniels - AFC Bournemouth - £5.3m
The left-back's bursts down the flank will doubtless be a feature of the meeting with Crystal Palace at the Vitality Stadium. Daniels will seek a fifth double-digit tally of the season, with the Eagles arriving having scored only two goals from their last six Gameweeks. 

Phil Jones - Manchester United - £5.0m
Another omitted from the weekend FA Cup duties, Jones is expected to return to a United backline for the visit of Hull City. Since his recall to the Red Devils' defence in Gameweek 11, they have conceded only nine goals in 11 matches: only Chelsea have shipped fewer over the same period.

Scout Selection Gameweek 23

Chris Brunt - West Bromwich Albion - £5.0m
The Irishman's cultured left foot can deliver both assists and goals to add to any potential Baggies clean sheet. Tony Pulis' side make a trip to Teesside off the back of the shutout against Sunderland to face a Middlesbrough side who boast only 10 goals in 12 matches at the Riverside Stadium - the fewest of any home side.

Alexis Sanchez - Arsenal - £11.9m
Having scored in three successive matches and with a goal or an assist in nine of the last 10 Gameweeks, Sanchez is an assured pick. A total of 25 goal attempts in his previous three outings at the Emirates Stadium indicate that he will carry the major threat to a Watford defence with a single clean sheet in the last 12 Gameweeks.

Gylfi Sigurdsson, Swansea City, Scout Selection, 310117.jpg
Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored or assisted 48% of Swansea City's goals this season

Gylfi Sigurdsson - Swansea City - £7.2m
A sixth goal of the campaign in the 3-2 win at Liverpool signalled a return to form for the Icelander, who will be a vital cog in the Swans' survival bid. That continues with a home clash against Southampton, who arrive at the Liberty Stadium without the significant influence of the injured Virgil van Dijk in their defence.

Christian Eriksen - Tottenham Hotspur - £8.7m
The Dane has lived up to his billing as Spurs' main creative force with six assists in as many matches. Six double-digit FPL returns in the last 10 Gameweeks also underlines Eriksen's ability to deliver big; the trip to bottom club Sunderland offers the latest opportunity to add to that reputation.

Junior Stanislas - AFC Bournemouth - £5.3m
The effervescent winger retains his Scout Selection berth despite failing to deliver in Gameweek 22. Stanislas has, however, provided a goal or an assist in seven of his last 11 Gameweek starts, and his pace, trickery and set-piece threat will be vital weapons in the Cherries' clash with Crystal Palace.

Manchester United v Liverpool, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned a goal or an assist in six successive matches prior to the 1-1 draw with Stoke City in Gameweek 22

Harry Kane - Tottenham Hotspur - £11.2m
Six goals in the last five outings, with more goal attempts (18) and on-target efforts (11) than any other FPL forward over that spell, underlines Kane's level of confidence and form ahead of the meeting with struggling Sunderland.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Manchester United - £11.7m
Consistent points returns make the United striker another certain pick. While he did not deliver at Stoke City in Gameweek 22, the Swede produced in six successive matches prior to the Potteries visit. Rested at the weekend, we are backing a return to the scoresheet for Ibrahimovic in United's reunion with Hull City at Old Trafford.

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