The biggest news impacting Fantasy Premier League this season have been injuries to Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney. Add to that the surgery completed Thursday that will rule out Younes Kaboul for four months and three of last seasons top four clubs have suffered key injuries to start the year.

We’ll take Kaboul first, since his injury necessitated surgery which effectively rules him out until the New Year. The defender started the season rated £5.5m and he is still owned by 3.1% of Fantasy Premier League managers.  There is certainly no reason to own him, but the better question is where to look for a replacement. Within the Spurs squad there is one capable replacement: William Gallas.

Gallas, priced £5m, has already played 90′ in each of the opening two Barclay’s Premier League fixtures for Andre Villas-Boas.  There new arrival, Jan Vertongher, has also recorded 90′ of BPL action, but his Fantasy Premier League price of £6.5m makes him a less attractive option. There is always the chance that Spurs make another move, with the surgery for Kaboul coming before the close of summer business a late swoop for a center back can not be ruled out. However, we believe that Gallas will remain the first choice pairing for Vertongher. In 1322′ last season, Gallas took part in 8 clean sheets.  Considering that Tottenham kept only 14 clean sheets in the 2011-12 season, Gallas had a remarkable record.  Additionally, he has played just 3661′ over the past two seasons. While some will point to his advancing age – we have said ourselves it is unlikely he can play a full 38 – he is certainly fit and performing currently and can provide immediate cover for Fantasy Premier League managers who’ve invested in Kaboul.

Spurs has a a nice run of fixtures, and the savings between Kaboul and Gallas will also offer flexibility to invest elsewhere. Without managing to keep a clean sheet in either of their opening two fixtures, AVB and the Spurs defense will be looking to redouble efforts against their next three opponents:

01 Sep 15:00

Gameweek 3

Norwich (H)

16 Sep 16:00

Gameweek 4

Reading (A)

23 Sep 16:00

Gameweek 5

QPR (H)

29 Sep 17:30

Gameweek 6

Man Utd (A)

07 Oct 15:00

Gameweek 7

Aston Villa (H)

20 Oct 12:45

Gameweek 8

Chelsea (H)

28 Oct 15:00

Gameweek 9

Southampton (A)

03 Nov 15:00

Gameweek 10

Wigan (H)

If you are looking to buy a player outside of White Hart Lane, we will refer you back to our Buying Guides, which continue to be the best source of information and detail the opening months of the season. While certain aspects may need to be taken in conjunction with current news, the underlying statistics from last season trump the small sample size we have from the 2012-13 campaign. Certainly, Spurs, Swansea City and Fulham continue to provide solid returns for minimal investment. There are additional players from other sides, ie Rafael for MUFC, that can be found at below market price.

As we move through injuries from most to least severe, reportedly, we arrive at the Curios Case of Wayne Rooney. Dropped to the bench after a lackluster match in the season opening loss against his former club, Everton, Rooney was used as a late defensive substitute. The injuries that have ravaged United’s defense, and provided the opening for Ferguson to risk his former talisman in such duty, continued with Rooney suffering a gash on his leg that will keep him out a minimum of four weeks. Four weeks should be considered a long shot, there are reports there could have been muscle damage and such damage may require as many as eight weeks on the sidelines.  Rooney has dealt with a barrage of rumours following the injury as he has been linked with a move away following the arrival of Robin Van Persie from Arsenal.

Rooney’s price has already dropped to £11.9m and will continue to fall as his selection has remained high, 12.4% as of 30 August.  Selling Rooney soon will be the only way to save the investment and there are no shortage of suitable replacements available for less. We’ve highlighted three here. Each is listed with his next five matches. At this point we’re  not willing to look past the gameweek seven fixtures.

Robin Van Persie. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking him up. The schedule is a bit difficult compared to the other options we’ll highligh, but RVP has shown he has no problem scoring against any opposition and he will assume Rooney’s mantle as the tip of the spear.  United’s other new additions are meshing well and the improving health of defenders like Evans will allow midfielders Carrick and Valencia to move back into their natural positions. With Kagawa and Ashley Young playing in behind the Dutch hitman, he will have no shortage of service and he has matured into a lethal finisher.

02 Sep 16:00

Gameweek 3

Southampton (A)

15 Sep 15:00

Gameweek 4

Wigan (H)

23 Sep 13:30

Gameweek 5

Liverpool (A)

29 Sep 17:30

Gameweek 6

Tottenham (H)

07 Oct 16:00

Gameweek 7

Newcastle (A)

Emmanuel Adebayor requires little additional support on this site. We’ve highlighted both his goal scoring and goal providing abilities previously. He scores plenty, assists on double-digit goals, and provides points top class fantasy premier league points.  Jermain Defoe is tweeting that he has a new deal at Spurs, which casts some doubt of rotation, but we expect it’s Ade’s job to lose.

01 Sep 15:00

Gameweek 3

Norwich (H)

16 Sep 16:00

Gameweek 4

Reading (A)

23 Sep 16:00

Gameweek 5

QPR (H)

29 Sep 17:30

Gameweek 6

Man Utd (A)

07 Oct 15:00

Gameweek 7

Aston Villa (H)

Demba Ba was being overlooked by fantasy premier league managers this season. Opened at £7.5m in Fantasy Premier League official, he is now up to £7.7m and has been selected by 18.2% of managers. With injuries to Aguero and Rooney consolidating ownership in fewer top tier options, it was only a matter of time until Ba’s price increased. Newcastle will feature the two Senegalese strikers all season and Ba is priced £1.8m less than his club and National teammate Papiss Cisse.  While either could be the one to score in a given week, we’re taking the less expensive route, content in the knowledge that Ba has scored 24 goals in 3729′ since joining Newcastle.  With a trip to Everton and a visit from Manchester United  in the next five, Newcastle does face a couple of tricky fixtures but Ba is inexpensive enough to own as a third striker.

02 Sep 16:00

Gameweek 3

Aston Villa (H)

17 Sep 20:00

Gameweek 4

Everton (A)

22 Sep 15:00

Gameweek 5

Norwich (H)

29 Sep 15:00

Gameweek 6

Reading (A)

07 Oct 16:00

Gameweek 7

Man Utd (H)

The final injury duplicates a bit with the previous but it is important to note the increased value that Carlos Tevez has as a result of Kun Aguero’s prolonged absence.  Two goals, an assist and 176′ played have Tevez showing signs he is his old self again.

We’re including Manchester City’s next five, for comparison with those above, but it’s the run through gameweek 10 that makes investment in the Citizens strike force a necessity.

01 Sep 17:30

Gameweek 3

QPR (H)

15 Sep 15:00

Gameweek 4

Stoke City (A)

23 Sep 16:00

Gameweek 5

Arsenal (H)

29 Sep 15:00

Gameweek 6

Fulham (A)

06 Oct 12:45

Gameweek 7

Sunderland (H)

Following the gameweek seven visit from Sunderland, Mancini’s men will have trips to West Brom and West Ham separated by a home tilt against Swansea City.  None of those three sides should prove impenetrable. It is much too far away to make assessments of your fantasy premier league side for November, but it is important to remember that Aguero was heavily touted in the summer in part because of the opening run of fixtures for Man City.  That benefit now transfers to Tevez, Balotelli and Dzeko.

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