Fantasy Premier League

Who to pick in FPL Challenge as Asia-Pacific stars score DOUBLE

5 May 2024
FPL Challenge GW7

Sam Bonfield explains her selections for the final event of the International Series

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The International Series in Fantasy Challenge concludes this week, with players from Asia-Pacific scoring DOUBLE points.

You can enter a 5-a-side team using an UNLIMITED budget up until 16:30 BST on Sunday, when Brighton & Hove Albion host Tottenham Hotspur.

Here, FPL expert Sam Bonfield reveals her approach for Gameweek 7.

Pick your Fantasy Challenge team NOW!

There are 14 players available for selection from Asia-Pacific, although there are really only four who are regular starters for their clubs, in Yukinari Sugawara (£4.5m), Son Heung-min (£9.9m), Kaoru Mitoma (£6.6m) and Chris Wood (£6.2m).

However, Sugawara has a tough fixture at Arsenal and is therefore unlikely to register a clean sheet.

Son and Mitoma are due to play against each other on Sunday, but Son has missed Spurs' last two matches in all competitions, and Ange Postecoglou revealed that Son remains doubtful due to a hamstring injury in his pre-match press conference.

Finally, Wood also has a tough fixture on paper against Chelsea, but he has started the season well, producing 31 points over the opening six Gameweeks. 

I've decided therefore to pick two players who can earn double points, with the hope of maximising their attacking returns, as well as three players who don't double, but do have great fixtures.

Double up on Arsenal defence

In goal, I've gone with Arsenal's David Raya (£5.6m). There is only one goalkeeper from Asia-Pacific in Joe Gauci (£4.0m), but he is one of the back-up 'keepers at Aston Villa. On that basis, I have plumped for the goalkeeper most likely to keep a clean sheet.

Raya has a home fixture against a Southampton side who have scored the fewest goals in the league this season, with three. That has convinced me to double up on the Gunners' backline with Gabriel (£6.2m).

The Brazilian has already scored two goals this season and his eight attempts on goal is only bettered by two other defenders. 

FPL GW7 Challenge line-up
Take a chance on Son?

In midfield, there are a number of fantastic options this weekend. Mohamed Salah (£12.7m), Cole Palmer (£10.7m) and Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) are prime examples. I was really tempted to go for one of them.

By picking Son, the risk is that all of the big names I mentioned will have played before the Spurs teamsheet is released.

So if Son doesn't play, I will replace him with the in-form Brennan Johnson (£6.4m), who has scored five goals in his last five matches in all competitions, giving up the opportunity for double points. 

Two up front

I have decided to select two forwards in Wood and Erling Haaland (£15.3m). Wood faces a Chelsea side who have conceded in four of their six matches this season. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have scored six goals so far, of which Wood has been directly involved in three of them. If Son is out, Wood offers the most potential for attacking returns from the Asia-Pacific players.

City's Haaland picks himself for a home fixture against Fulham, although it does mean not owning the likes of Ollie Watkins (£9.1m) or Dominic Solanke (£7.6m), both of whom could be excellent picks this week. 

The captaincy is a big decision. I would like to hand the armband to Son, as his double points would be doubled again. If he doesn't start, Johnson would get the armband.

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