Explainers

FANS have been wondering for weeks what this new Fantasy Premier League mystery chip will be – but the wait is finally over!FPL bosses announced at the start of the 2024/25 season that a mystery chip will be unveiled at some point during the campaign.Players can choose from any of the 20 Premier League managersCredit: GettyAnd on December 11, 2024, it was confirmed that it will be an assistant manager chip.But what exactly does it do you may ask?Well, SunSport can give you all the information you need on this game-changing chip below.What is the FPL assistant manager chip?Along with picking 15 players in your squad, FPL lovers can now pick one of the Premier League’s 20 managers to help earn points.Read more on Premier LeagueThe Chip will become playable from Gameweek 24 in January and when you activate it, you’ll be able to choose an assistant manager for THREE successive Gameweeks.If you pick a manager who faces a club ranked at least five places higher in the Premier League table at the start of the Gameweek, there’s the possibility of even greater rewards.An EXTRA 10 points for a win, so 16 in total, or an additional five points for a draw, so eight in total.This means players have to decide whether they choose a manager from a club at the higher end of the table.Most read in FootballOr one who is lower down but primed for some huge results against one of the big boys.How does the FPL assistant manager chip work?When you activate the chip and choose your assistant manager, you will score points for their club’s results for THREE Gameweeks in a row.  Once the chip is activated, choosing your assistant manager does not cost a “free transfer”. But if you want to change your manager during this three-Gameweek period it will cost a transfer in exactly the same way as players. Remember, you can only play one chip in a Gameweek. So if you activate the assistant manager chip in Gameweek 24, you won’t be able to use another chip until Gameweek 27.If a manager leaves their club, Fantasy managers who own or bring in that assistant manager will still score based on the original club’s performance.What is the FPL assistant manager chip points system?The chip earns points based on your chosen manager’s club performance. They earn points from several metrics, but you CANNOT captain them. –    Team win = 6 points-    Team draws = 3 points-    Goal scored by team = 1 point per goal-    Clean sheet from team = 2 points-    Table bonus: If your chosen manager faces a club ranked at least five places higher in the Premier League table at the start of the Gameweek, you get an EXTRA 10 points for a win, so 16 in total, or an additional five points for a draw, so eight in total. More

THERE are fears that West Ham striker Michail Antonio may never return to the pitch again after his horror accident on Saturday afternoon.Since signing from Nottingham Forest in 2015, Antonio has established himself as West Ham’s all-time Premier League leading goal scorer with 68 goals.Michail Antonio’s footballing career is in jeopardyCredit: GettyThe Jamaican forward also played a key role in West Ham’s 2023 Europa Conference League triumph – the Hammers’ first major trophy in 43 years.But it has now been revealed that Antonio’s return to action is in jeopardy following the news that broke last weekend.And SunSport can explain exactly what has happened to the versatile footballerWhat happened to Michail Antonio?Michail Antonio “shattered” his legs after being involved in a horror car crash.Read more on Mihcail AntonioShocking images showed the West Ham striker had smashed his £260,000 Ferrari FF into trees.COLLECT PIC OF WEST HAM FOOTBALLER MICHAIL ANTONIO TRAPPED IN HIS FERRARI SPORTS CAR FOLLOWING A CRASH IN EPPING FOREST,ESSEX TODAY-07/12/24Credit: Steve BellAnd it was reported that Antonio was trapped for 45 minutes before being cut free by a fire crew.Antonio was then airlifted to a London hospital were he underwent surgery on his lower limbs.It is now understood the dad-of-four’s best-case scenario will be a one-year recovery time.Most read in FootballWhat has been said?West Ham put out a statement confirming that Michail Antonio has undergone surgery.The statement read: “West Ham United can confirm Michail Antonio has undergone surgery on a lower limb fracture following a road traffic accident on Saturday afternoon.”Michail will continue to be monitored in hospital over the coming days.”Everyone at the Club wishes Michail a speedy recovery and expresses its sincere gratitude to the football family at large for the overwhelming support shown since yesterday’s news.”A heartfelt thank you to the emergency services and first responders who attended to Michail in the immediate aftermath of the incident, and the medical team who continue to aid him in his recovery.”The Club will provide further updates when appropriate.”Ahead of West Ham’s Premier League match with Wolves on Monday, December 9, Hammers players warmed-up in special ‘Antonio 9’ shirts as well as walking out in top adorning the striker’s name.West Ham players showed their support to Michail Antonio during the warm-up before their Premier League clash with WolvesCredit: PAMichail Antonio’s first words since the crashThe Premier League star asked a witness who rushed to his help three worrying questions after the crash.He was disorientated. He said, ‘Where am I? What’s going on? What car am I in?’Samuel WoodsSamuel, a carer from Regent’s Park, told The Sun: “I said to him ‘hello’ to see if anyone was alive.“I heard sirens and told him that help was on its way.“He was so disorientated. He said, ‘Where am I? What’s going on? What car am I in?’“The paramedics got there really fast. I couldn’t believe what happened. The car smelt of petrol.”READ MORE SUN STORIESSamuel, who does not follow football and did not recognise the star, went on: “I looked at him and thought, ‘He’s in big trouble’.“I just said, ‘You’ve had an ­accident’. He didn’t reply. He was looking around trying to make sense of what I just said. He was sitting in the passenger side.” More