The improving all-round displays of Raheem Sterling (£10.6m) can reward Fantasy Premier League managers over the winter period.
Manchester City’s winger has scored against Everton and Watford in the last four Gameweeks.
He has also supplied an assist against Aston Villa in that run, blanking on only one occasion.
By contrast, Sterling had managed a single goal in the opening 11 Gameweeks.
Sterling's goal v Watford
The England star’s impressive recent performances are also highlighted by the ICT Index, a feature in Fantasy that can help guide the strategies and selections of managers.
Indeed, he ranks second only to Mohamed Salah (£13.1m) among midfielders over the last four Gameweeks.
Top midfielders in ICT Index GW12-15
| Category | Salah | Sterling | Jota | Bernardo |
| ICT Index | 50.1 | 49.6 | 46.9 | 46.7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shots | 15 | 11 | 15 | 7 |
| Shots in box | 12 | 8 | 14 | 7 |
| Big chances | 5 | 4 | 7 | 3 |
| Key passes | 7 | 12 | 5 | 8 |
| FPL points | 35 | 23 | 33 | 35 |
In terms of goal threat, Sterling’s eight shots in the box have been bettered by only three other midfielders in Fantasy.
Meanwhile, his four big chances rank third behind Liverpool duo Diogo Jota (£8.0m) and Salah, who have managed seven and five respectively.
Sterling’s creativity has also been a big factor for Man City.
His 12 key passes put him joint-top alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.1m) among all players in Fantasy in that period.
Bernardo Silva (£7.5m) and Ilkay Gundogan (£7.3m) are his nearest rivals in Pep Guardiola’s side, with eight apiece.
Attractive alternative
The improvement in Sterling's all-round attacking threat is clear.
His five shots on target and four big chances in the last four Gameweeks bettered his totals of four and three respectively in Man City’s first 11 matches.
And his 12 chances created in the last four Gameweeks are double his total of six beforehand.
Sterling’s premium cost in Fantasy, compared with team-mates such as Bernardo and Phil Foden (£8.1m), means he remains overlooked by managers, being picked in only 1.3 per cent of squads.
But his potential for goals and assists could make him a big success over the winter schedule, according to the ICT Index.
