FPL pre-season watch: Ndiaye on target as budget forward

Sheffield United's talisman Iliman Ndiaye (£5.5m) has been quick to find his form ahead of the start of 2023/24 Fantasy Premier League.

The forward scored the Blades’ opener in their first match of the summer, a 2-0 win over Chesterfield on Saturday.

Ndiaye scored 14 goals and assisted a further 10 in the Championship last season, making him one of only two players in the division to record double-figures for both statistics.

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An ownership of just 1.2 per cent lifts his appeal for Sheff Utd’s favourable early schedule.

According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), three of their first four matches score only two.

Sheff Utd's opening fixtures

Watkins also warming up

Meanwhile another forward, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (£8.0m), reminded managers of his potential with a converted penalty in a 1-1 draw with Walsall.

He was the third top-scoring forward in Fantasy after Unai Emery was appointed head coach in Gameweek 15 last season, averaging 5.6 points per match thanks to 13 goals and six assists.

A tough early schedule has limited Watkins' appeal, with the Villa star selected in only 14.2 per cent of squads.

Villa have only one home match in the first four Gameweeks, and travel to both Newcastle United and Liverpool.

Villa's opening fixtures

Watkins has a kinder run of opponents from Gameweek 5, with four home matches in six matches, in addition to a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

See: Register your team early to boost your FPL chances

Also in this series

Part 1: Saka justifies popularity
Part 2: Bowen already in red-hot form