Zlatan can be the man for FPL armband

Sergio Aguero (£13.0m) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (£11.5m) wasted no time in vindicating their popularity amongst Fantasy Premier League managers.

Currently residing in 46.9% and 45% of FPL squads, the duo returned nine points apiece in Gameweek 1, courtesy of a goal and maximum bonus points.

The in-form pair are set to battle it out for our armband affections once again, with Aguero travelling to Stoke City and Ibrahimovic welcoming Southampton to Old Trafford.

Despite missing a pair of penalties in Manchester City’s 5-0 win over Steaua Bucharest in midweek, Aguero still found the net on three occasions. He has netted six times in four matches under Pep Guardiola and faces a Potters rearguard who are without first-choice goalkeeper Jack Butland.

No other forward produced more shots (six) or efforts inside the box (five) than Aguero in Gameweek 1.

With just two long-range attempts in Manchester United’s 3-1 win at AFC Bournemouth, Ibrahimovic has been less threatening.

Nonetheless, the Swede’s second-half strike from distance at Vitality Stadium, allied with an FA Community Shield winner over Leicester City, means he has scored in each of his competitive matches under Jose Mourinho.

In a first home outing since arriving in the summer, the stage could be set for Ibrahimovic to deliver on Friday evening.

For those who dare to go against the Manchester duo, Eden Hazard’s busy display against West Ham United on Monday evening bodes well for his weekend prospects.

Owned by 20.7% of FPL managers, the Belgian has scored five times in his last six Premier League matches. He visits a Watford side who conceded more attempts (24) than any other in Gameweek 1.

Dimitri Payet (£9.5m) and Harry Kane (£11.0m) are another couple of well-owned options with favourable weekend matches.

Introduced off the bench in West Ham’s loss to Chelsea, Payet will be itching for his first Premier League start of the season.

The Frenchman, who averaged 5.7 points per match in his debut season, bagged a goal and assist in his previous appearance against the Cherries.

Owned by 26.9%, Payet’s creativity will be vital to the Hammers’ hopes; only Mesut Ozil registered more key passes in 2015/16.

Kane, who sits in 18.6% of FPL squads, failed to produce a single attempt on goal in Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-1 draw at Everton.

The Spurs frontman is still worth considering for the visit of a Crystal Palace side with two clean sheets in their last 20 top-flight fixtures. Although he found the net just once in the two encounters with the Eagles last term, Kane produced four efforts on both occasions.