The Scout assesses how the FIFA World Cup 2022 has impacted the most popular players in Fantasy Premier League during the current unlimited free transfers period.
Forwards
Darwin Nunez (£9.0m) is proving a popular pick in Fantasy ahead of the season resuming on Monday 26 December.
The Liverpool forward is the third most-bought player in the unlimited free transfers period, brought in by over 323,000 managers.
More than 99,000 of those were former owners of Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus (£8.0m), who is expected to be sidelined for a lengthy period after being injured while playing for Brazil.
Uruguay's early exit from the World Cup also ensures Nunez will be fresh when domestic action resumes.
His last appearance in Qatar was against Ghana on 2 December.
Indeed, Nunez is Liverpool's most-bought attacker in the last 24-hour period, earning 7,700 transfers in, to the 7,000 of Mohamed Salah (£12.8m).
Most-owned forwards in Fantasy
| Player | Ownership | WC mins. | Last WC app. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haaland | 82.8% | - | - |
| Jesus | 53.0% | 93 | 02/12 |
| Kane | 27.4% | 403 | 10/12 |
| Mitrovic | 19.3% | 263 | 02/12 |
| Toney | 19.2% | - | - |
| Nunez | 12.3% | 242 | 02/12 |
Similar to Egypt's Salah, Manchester City star Erling Haaland (£12.2m) will be fully refreshed when the campaign gets back under way as his country, Norway, did not qualify for the World Cup.
Faith in their fellow big-hitter Harry Kane (£11.6m) has stepped up as a result of England's quarter-final exit.
Although he played 403 minutes in Qatar, Kane's last outing was on 10 December, which is 16 days prior to Tottenham Hotspur's trip to Brentford in Gameweek 17.
More than 95,000 former Jesus owners have turned to Kane, who ranks second only to Haaland in the overall player standings.
Interest in Mitrovic on the rise
Brentford's Ivan Toney (£7.4m), meanwhile, is the most-bought player in Gameweek 17, earning 561,000 new owners.
However, the recent announcement of a Double Gameweek 19 for Fulham has made Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.8m) the top target in Fantasy for a number of days.
He is again the most-bought player in the last 24 hours, picking up 15,000 new owners.
The Cottagers and Chelsea are the only two sides to play twice in that round of fixtures, handing them four matches in the next three Gameweeks.
Also in this series
Part 1: Ward still proving popular
Part 2: Key defenders return with fresh legs
Part 3: Managers recruit rested midfielders