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Yahoo Daily Fantasy: The General's midweek budget picks
Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton) – £17
Position: Forward
Tuesday’s Fixture: Chelsea (away)
The Italian made a sensational start to his career in English football, scoring four goals in his first three league appearances for Southampton, as well netting a brace in the EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester United. A groin injury put an end to his excellent run of form but he’s fit again having played fifty-nine minutes against Manchester City last time out. The Saints face a Chelsea side who are in pole position to win the league but who have been shipping goals recently, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last ten league matches. Gabbiadini has the predatory instincts required to make it eleven games without a shutout for the Blues.
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Jordan Pickford (Sunderland) – £13
Position: Goalkeeper
Wednesday’s Fixture: Middlesbrough (away)
As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, Jordan Pickford has been one of only two players shining at the Stadium of Light this season, the other being the evergreen Jermain Defoe. He faces a Middlesbrough team who have mustered just 23 goals in 33 league matches. Pickford could play without gloves in this one and still register a clean sheet. He’s my pick of the goalkeepers this week.
Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) – £17
Position: Forward
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Wednesday’s Fixture: Tottenham (home)
In last week’s budget piece, I predicted Monday’s back page headlines to read: ‘Benteke returns to haunt his former employers’, and he sure did, scoring a brace on his return to Anfield in another impressive win for Big Sam’s Crystal Palace which dented Liverpool’s Champions League hopes. After that performance, he’s staying in my team for this one despite Spurs boasting the best defensive record in the league. When the big Belgian is in form he’s unplayable, he can do damage against any defence and Palace are on a roll with six wins in their last eight matches.
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) – £18
Position: Forward
Thursday’s Fixture: Manchester City (away)
Thursday’s Manchester derby is huge for both sides as they battle it out for a coveted Champions League spot. Rashford has been the hero for United on more than one occasion recently, scoring the opener in the crucial 2-0 win over Chelsea as well as the winning goal against Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter-final. Jose Mourinho wrapped him up in cotton wool for the trip to Burnley last time out but the nineteen-year-old is set to lead the line against City in the absence of the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic. His pace and finishing ability will pose a huge threat to City’s fragile backline.
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