After taking a week to assess how the 20 clubs in the Premier League had returned from their summer break, we are back with our first offering of fantasy football advice for the new season.
England's top flight is still at a stage where everyone is trying to settle back into life in the most physically demanding league in the world, but last week gave us a chance to see who had returned with the intention of hitting the ground running.
Below, Sports Mole suggests three players who you should consider selecting for this weekend's fixtures, and another trio who we believe you would be best leaving alone.
Who to pick
1. Yaya Toure
After he appeared to coast through the second half of last season, it had been suggested that Yaya Toure would be departing Manchester City during the summer, but after a reunion with Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan failed to materialise, the Ivorian returned to the Premier League with a bang by making a big contribution in City's 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion. The 32-year-old had one of his goals chalked off, but his second was a trademark long-range strike that left the goalkeeper with no chance. Chelsea are the visitors to the Etihad on Sunday, but with the Blues sluggish for the most part of their draw with Swansea City, Toure has the chance to lay down a marker not only from a personal standpoint, but for City in terms of the title race.
2. Dimitri Payet
Much was made of Slaven Bilic's decision to keep most of his first-choice lineup at home instead of featuring in the Europa League in Romania, but the Croatian's call proved to be an inspired one as West Ham United outplayed and outfought Arsenal last weekend. The team as a whole deserved plenty of plaudits, but one man who stood out was Dimitri Payet, who took to Premier League football like duck to water. It was an outstanding, all-round display from the Frenchman and if he can have the same impact at Upton Park as he did at Marseille, the Hammers have some player. Leicester City visit East London on Saturday, and it is the perfect time for Payet to take centre stage in front of his new supporters, whose expectations have increased ten-fold after the performance of their new signing and his teammates last weekend.
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3. Graziano Pelle
After he ended last season having scored just four times in his last 16 games for Southampton, you would have been forgiven for thinking that Graziano Pelle was incapable of having another hot streak like he had at the start of the last campaign, but the Italian seems intent of proving you otherwise. The 30-year-old has netted a goal in each of his three appearances so far - two in the Europa League and one in the Premier League at Newcastle United - and with the Saints already rediscovering the rhythm in their play that took them to seventh last year, it is hard to back against Pelle scoring for a fourth game in succession when his team host Everton at St Mary's on Saturday.
Who to avoid
1. Theo Walcott
After being given the nod in the Community Shield, the expectation was that Theo Walcott would begin the season as Arsenal's first-choice striker but the England attacker found himself on the bench for the defeat to West Ham last weekend. He did make an appearance in the second half, but he did little to impress manager Arsene Wenger and he seems a certainty to remain in the dugout at the start of the Gunners' game at Crystal Palace. It gets worse for Walcott, who will find himself behind the returning Alexis Sanchez in the pecking order and unless Arsenal are chasing the game, he may not get on the pitch at Selhurst Park.
2. Bastian Schweinsteiger
Despite being one of Manchester United's marquee summer signings, it has not been a great start for Bastian Schweinsteiger at Old Trafford. The German was criticised by boss Louis van Gaal during pre-season while he was nothing more than average during his 30-minute appearance off the bench against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. Like every player experiencing English football for the first time, there will be a settling-in period, but as an established international, the former Bayern Munich man is expected to acclimatise faster than others. However, he is likely to be restricted to another substitute appearance at Aston Villa on Friday night.
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3. James Chester
At £8m, James Chester has been one of West Bromwich Albion's biggest summer signings, but in fantasy football world, he is available for much less. That has perhaps tempted many players into selecting the Welsh international but all did not go to plan on his debut against Manchester City. Boss Tony Pulis has taken blame for the defeat but it was not the best of starts for the former Hull City man, who is still bedding into life at The Hawthorns. He should start at Vicarage Road against Watford on Saturday but the Hornets are buoyant after earning a point away at Everton and with their home form a big factor in their promotion last season, the Baggies could find themselves on the defensive for much of the game and it would come as a surprise if they were able to keep a clean sheet.
Darren Plant
