The Scout is tipping five players for big success in Gameweek 28 of 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League ahead of Saturday's 11:00 GMT deadline.
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) £6.7m
Eze is an ideal pick for those playing the Free Hit in Blank Gameweek 29 (BGW29), when Crystal Palace are without a league fixture. Anyone NOT playing that chip then should carefully consider whether bringing in Eze would leave them unable to field 11 players next week.
For those who ARE using the Free Hit in BGW29, Palace players are firmly at the top of this week's shopping list.
The Eagles are in great form after losing only three of their last 16 league matches. Their next two Premier League matches, at home to Ipswich Town in Gameweek 28 and at Southampton in Gameweek 30, give them an excellent chance to prolong that purple patch.
Oliver Glasner's side also have a Double Gameweek 32, one of only two clubs to do so, along with Newcastle United. Palace visit Man City, along with their trip to St James' Park.
Eze has already produced attacking returns against Ipswich and Southampton this season, registering a goal and an assist across the reverse fixtures.
He's also the leading FPL midfielder for shots and chances created combined over the last six matches, with 36.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) £6.4m
First plays 20th in Gameweek 28 as league leaders Liverpool welcome Southampton to Anfield.
Interestingly, Saints' 129 shots conceded from set plays is the highest in the division in 2024/25.
Van Dijk could capitalise: the Dutchman's total of 13 headed set-piece attempts ranks fourth among FPL defenders.
Given Southampton are the lowest scorers in the league, netting only 19 times this season, Van Dijk and Liverpool will also be confident of adding to their league-best tally of 12 clean sheets.
With the visit of Ivan Juric's side sandwiched by a UEFA Champions League double-header against Paris Saint-Germain, there is the possibility that Arne Slot may rotate or manage the minutes of some of his first-team regulars.
But there should be few such worries about Van Dijk, who has made 79 starts since his last Premier League benching - and even that outing as a substitute came in his first match back after a hamstring injury.
As is the case with Eze and Palace, the Van Dijk selection comes with the caveat that Liverpool DO NOT have a Premier League fixture in BGW29 - so if you're not using your Free Hit, give thought to how many active players you can field.
Pedro Neto (Chelsea) £6.2m
In the absence of the injured Nicolas Jackson (£7.7m), midfielder Neto looks set to continue offering "out of position" appeal playing as a centre-forward in Gameweek 28.
The Portugal international has led the line for the Blues in each of the last two Gameweeks, delivering one goal, two assists and 16 points.
Neto could inflict further damage in Gameweek 28, when Leicester City visit Stamford Bridge.
The Foxes have failed to keep a clean sheet across their last 20 Premier League matches, conceding 49 goals in the process.
Jorgen Strand Larsen (Wolves) £5.2m
Strand Larsen has returned from injury just in time for Wolverhampton Wanderers, who will be without talisman Matheus Cunha (£7.0m) for the next three league matches through suspension.
Wolves are about to embark on a favourable run. Starting with the Gameweek 28 home meeting with Everton, their next four matches all score two in the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR).
The upcoming matches against the Toffees and West Ham United are both at Molineux.
Strand Larsen has scored five goals and provided an assist across 11 home league starts in 2024/25 Fantasy.
His average of 4.5 points per home start this season is, for context, the same as Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.5m).
At just £5.2m, Strand Larsen could be a sensible replacement for owners of Mateta or Cunha, freeing up budget to be spent on the likes of Erling Haaland (£14.7m) in future Gameweeks.
Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford) £5.1m
Brentford's Danish international has created 23 chances over the last eight Gameweeks, a tally only bettered by Mohamed Salah (£13.8m).
Damsgaard has nine assists in 2024/25 Fantasy and can continue his fine form this weekend when Brentford host Aston Villa, who have won only one of their last nine away league matches.
Villa's midweek match against Club Brugge may also have relevance. Unai Emery's side have failed to win any of their last seven Premier League fixtures that immediately followed a Champions League match.
Furthermore, Damsgaard also scored against Villa when the sides last met in Gameweek 14, picking up nine points.
