It feels like forever since we last had a full round of Premier League fixtures across a three-day period with the most recent one taking place across a fortnight to coincide with the Premier League’s ‘winter break’. Not that it was much of a break, as a number of sides were forced to contest FA Cup third-round replays such as Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Everton, Crystal Palace and Brentford. Throw in the Africa Cup of Nations alongside the Asian Cup and we’ve had somewhat of an FPL lull with key assets either injured or away on international duty.
Mo Salah injury update https://t.co/xYF9f13Itv
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) January 22, 2024
However, things are about to ramp up again with a full round of midweek fixtures before the weekend and with that, we’re on hand to provide you with three premium players worthy of the captaincy in Gameweek 22, alongside an alternate differential pick ahead of Tuesday’s 18:00 deadline.
PREMIUM OPTIONS
Erling Haaland (£13.9m) vs BUR (H)
It goes without saying that this represents a huge risk when considering Haaland’s injury status. The Norwegian striking superstar hasn’t featured for Man City since Gameweek 15 due to an ankle injury, missing five Premier League matches. However, he is back in team training and Pep Guardiola expects to give him his first minutes since returning to full fitness in Gameweek 22 at home to Burnley.
Haaland on full training today #FPL pic.twitter.com/Fg9zoKtdJP
— PZ (@FPL_PZ) January 27, 2024
The fixture is an enticing one as is the fact that Haaland remains the Premier League’s top scorer despite the amount of time he has spent on the sidelines. The reverse fixture saw him bag a brace and 13 FPL points back in Gameweek 1. As it stands, he remains one of the top five highest scoring FPL assets with 112 fantasy points and even if Haaland was to come off the bench vs the Clarets, he still stands a good chance of an FPL haul, making him captain material.
Jarrod Bowen (£8.1m) vs BOU (H)
Despite the expectation being that he would miss Gameweek 21 through injury, Bowen was passed fit to play against Sheffield Utd and completed the entire match. Although he only gained 2 points with no attacking returns, it could have been a different story had Bowen been awarded a penalty for what appeared to be a foul on him from Blades defender Anel Ahmedhodzic deep into second-half stoppage time.
Bowen
— FPL Mayor (@FPLMayor) January 29, 2024
West Ham play Bournemouth at home this week who are ranked 18th for goals conceded this season.
Bowen appears to be fit and will likely be playing through the middle so is nice option if you still own him. pic.twitter.com/ia3Orcyr66
Bowen boasts 11 goals, two assists and 113 fantasy points in the Premier League alone across this season so far and whether he is fielded out wide or up front, the 27-year-old is a consistent attacking threat. Bournemouth at home serves as West Ham’s Gameweek 22 opposition and the Cherries’ last Premier League fixture saw them beaten 0-4 by Liverpool. Those hunting for a midfielder to captain should afford Bowen serious consideration
Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) vs BUR (H)
Another Man City asset back at full fitness and another midfielder who stakes a huge claim for the armband come Gameweek 22, Kevin De Bruyne is currently attracting mass attention across the FPL community. His first appearance back in a blue shirt since his hamstring injury suffered in Gameweek 1, saw the Belgian come off the bench to score the equaliser, before setting up the winning goal in a thrilling 2-3 win for Pep Guardiola’s men away at Newcastle. A total of 12 FPL points accumulated in just 21 minutes.
"I'm going to back myself!"
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 29, 2024
No hesitation from Kevin De Bruyne in 'Captain, Start or Bench' ©#FPL pic.twitter.com/ZB0KMJVAet
Since then, De Bruyne came off the bench again, this time in his side’s FA Cup victory against Spurs, his corner leading to the winning goal. Surely it is only a matter of time before the creative talisman’s first start and Burnley at home may well fit the ball. The hub of everything Man City do from an attacking perspective when on the pitch, De Bruyne’s chances of a big fantasy score is always extremely high.
DIFFERENTIAL OPTION
James Maddison (£7.8m) vs BRE (H)
De Bruyne wasn’t the only notable figure who came off the bench at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Friday night, Spurs midfielder James Maddison, made his long-awaited return to action for the first time since all the way back in Gameweek 11. Before then, Maddison had been an integral part of Ange Postecoglou’s offensive juggernaut, racking up nine attacking returns and 63 FPL points, making him one of the most popular fantasy midfielders prior to his injury.
| James Maddison is back in business! pic.twitter.com/BClZNboCJ6
— Tottenham Sweden (@TottenhamSweden) January 24, 2024
Gameweek 22 sees Spurs host Brentford, who have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last ten Premier League fixtures, which doesn’t bode well for them against a team of Spurs’ quality going forward. Like Haaland and De Bruyne, choosing to captain a player returning from injury is a big risk in regards to his expected minutes. But should Maddison start, then it could prove a golden gamble for any FPL bosses who name him as their Gameweek 22 skipper
