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    Bruno Fernandes becomes Dream Team’s most in-form player ahead of Ruben Amorim’s arrival

    ALL of a sudden Bruno Fernandes (£5.9m) is Dream Team’s most in-form player.Manchester United’s captain scored a penalty in his side’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday as part of an impressive 14-point haul.The Portugal international also created two big chances, made four tackles, and earned a bonus point at Old Trafford to continue his sharp upturn in form.On the upCredit: Dream TeamFernandes notched 23 points in Gameweek 9 at the expense of West Ham and Leicester, with the latter taking the brunt of the damage.A unmatched spree of 37 points across his last three outings has propelled the 30-year-old up the rankings – he’s now joint-ninth among midfielders.Goal involvements largely escaped Fernandes across the first seven Gameweeks of the season but three goals and an assist in his last four appearances have balanced the scales.Experienced Dream Team bosses will know that he always tends to end up among the top performers in his position and so this surge of form should not be overlooked.Fernandes’ numbers are heading in the right directionCredit: GettyThree goals represents a modest return at this stage but Fernandes is a viable selection because he offers multiple avenues to points.Only six midfielders have registered more assists but it could be argued that the Red Devils’ talisman deserves a higher rank in the metric as only Bukayo Saka (£6.7m) and Cole Palmer (£6.3m) have created more big chances for their team-mates.Fernandes has also made 29 tackles in all competitions, an impressive tally for a predominantly attack-minded player.Most read in FootballGameweek 10 isn’t done yet as Man United will host PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday night with the English giants seeking their first win in the competition this campaign.Gameweek 11 then brings a home game against Leicester, which should favour Fernandes and company given they beat the Foxes 5-2 in the Carabao Cup just a few days ago.It will be interesting to see how Amorim uses FernandesCredit: PARuben Amorim will then officially take charge during the international break, ending Ruud van Nistelrooy’s spell as interim manager.It will be very interesting to see how Man United fare from Gameweek 12 onwards as the Portuguese tactician has overseen a spotless record of ten wins from ten league games as Sporting CP boss so far this term.Gaffers will be wary that Erik ten Hag also arrived at Old Trafford with a significant reputation and the Dutchman’s appointment didn’t result in an influx of plentiful points, quite the opposite for the most part.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWHowever, Fernandes did thrive in the world of Dream Team despite the malaise that dogged the Red Devils for the majority of last season.If Amorim is able to get a sweeter tune out of this expensive squad then Fernandes is surely among the most likely beneficiaries?At the time of writing, Fernandes appears in 9.8% of teams – it’s rare that an asset with such a strong historical record features in fewer than 10% of teams.His price tag of £5.9m is a potential blockade as that makes him the fifth-most expensive midfielder in the game but 37 points since the start of Gameweek 9 speaks volumes.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 10: Latest news on Gabriel, Eberechi Eze and other key players

    DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 10 in one easily digestible dose.Dream Team managers should know to take Mikel Arteta’s quotes with a pinch of salt but Arsenal’s head coach told reporters that Gabriel will be included in the matchday squad to face Newcastle if the defender makes it through the final training session without complaint.Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Martin Odegaard remain sidelined while Ben White is also a major doubt having been unable to train.As for the Magpies, Eddie Howe admitted both Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon are carrying “niggling injuries” with the pair to be assessed before confirmation of their availability.Gabriel is the most transferred-out player ahead of Gameweek 10Credit: ReutersPep Guardiola told journalists that he had just 13 senior players fit after Manchester City’s defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.While that may have been an exaggeration from the decorated tactician, the defending champions will be missing several key men again this weekend.Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku are the certainties (plus long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb) while Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol and Savinho were all flagged in midweek – the latter was stretchered off.It might not mean anything but Gvardiol posted a relatively positive update on social media on Thursday: “We keep moving forward with full focus on Saturday!”The Croatian left-back is the most-selected defender in Dream Team right now with an ownership of 28.9%.Elsewhere, Micky van de Ven suffered a hamstring injury in midweek and is expected to be unavailable until after the international break.Most read in FootballCristian Romero and Timo Werner are both doubts but Son Heung-min “should be okay” when Spurs host Aston Villa on Sunday.Unai Emery has nearly a complete squad to choose from – Ross Barkley is the only known absentee.Van de Ven has injured his hamstringCredit: ReutersArne Slot expects Alisson, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa to return after the international break.Lewis Dunk was initially expected to miss the next three or four weeks but Fabian Hurzeler said Brighton’s long-serving centre-back was set to undergo an assessment on Friday – it would still be surprise if he featured at Anfield on Saturday.Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley have returned to training but this weekend may come too soon in regards to competitive action.Dwight McNeil is considered a doubt for Everton’s trip to Southampton on Saturday.The 24-year-old, who ranks joint-sixth among Dream Team midfielders, supposedly “has a chance” of playing some part against Saints but he’s yet to train with the rest of the squad.Abdoulaye Doucoure is also due for an assessment.Eze is unavailable for Palace this weekendCredit: PANuno Espirito Santo kept his cards close to his chest in his press conference on Thursday but Chris Wood, Elliot Anderson, Jota Silva and Morgan Gibbs-White were all named as doubts.Nottingham Forest will definitely be without James Ward-Prowse as he’s ineligible to face his parent club.Crystal Palace will be without key players Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton for their visit to Wolves.The former will miss two league games with a hamstring injury while the latter may be sidelined for a month having had surgery on his troublesome groin.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWARSENALInjuries: Kieran Tierney, Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel (doubt), Ben White (doubt)Suspensions: NoneASTON VILLAInjuries: Ross BarkleySuspensions: NoneBOURNEMOUTHInjuries: Luis Sinisterra, Alex Scott, Kepa Arrizabalaga (doubt), Dango OuattaraSuspensions: NoneBRENTFORDInjuries: Aaron Hickey, Igor Thiago, Josh Dasilva, Gustavo Nunes, Rico Henry, Kristoffer AjerSuspensions: NoneBRIGHTONInjuries: Solly March, Matt O’Riley (doubt), James Milner, Joao Pedro (doubt), Adam Webster, Yankuba Minteh (doubt), Lewis Dunk (doubt), Ferdi Kadioglu (doubt)Suspensions: NoneCHELSEAInjuries: NoneSuspensions: NoneCRYSTAL PALACEInjuries: Matheus Franca, Chris Richards, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad, Adam Wharton, Eberechi Eze, Jefferson Lerma, Joel WardSuspensions: NoneEVERTONInjuries: Youssef Chermiti, Armando Broja, Tim Iroegbunam, James Garner, Abdoulaye Doucoure (doubt), Dwight McNeil (doubt)Suspensions: NoneFULHAMInjuries: Sasa Lukic, Carlos Vinicius (doubt)Suspensions: NoneIPSWICHInjuries: Axel Tuanzebe, Massimo Luongo, Ben Johnson (doubt), Jacob Greaves, Chiedozie Ogbene, Jack TaylorSuspensions: Harry ClarkeLEICESTERInjuries: Patson Daka, Jakub Stolarczyk, Hamza Choudhury, Issahaku Fatawu, Victor Kristiansen (doubt)Suspensions: NoneLIVERPOOLInjuries: Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa, Alisson, Diogo JotaSuspensions: NoneMANCHESTER CITYInjuries: Oscar Bobb, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, Savinho (doubt), Manuel Akanji (doubt), Josko Gvardiol (doubt)Suspensions: NoneMANCHESTER UNITEDInjuries: Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, AntonySuspensions: NoneNEWCASTLEInjuries: Callum Wilson, Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier, Alexander Isak (doubt), Anthony Gordon (doubt), Jacob Murphy Suspensions: NoneNOTTINGHAM FORESTInjuries: Danilo, Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White (doubt), Chris Wood (doubt), Jota Silva (doubt), Elliot Anderson (doubt)Suspensions: NoneSOUTHAMPTONInjuries: Gavin Bazunu, Ross Stewart, Will Smallbone, Ryan Fraser (doubt), Flynn Downes (doubt), Ryan Manning (doubt)Suspensions: NoneTOTTENHAMInjuries: Son Heung-min (doubt), Djed Spence, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero (doubt), Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner (doubt)Suspensions: NoneWEST HAMInjuries: Niclas FullkrugSuspensions: Mohammed KudusWOLVESREAD MORE SUN STORIESInjuries: Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, Boubacar Traore, Bastien Meupiyou (doubt), Yerson MosqueraSuspensions: NoneBetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Captaincy options for Gameweek 10: Should gaffers target Mohamed Salah’s Anfield double header?

    WITH Saturday’s 11am deadline drawing near, Dream Team managers need to choose a captain (and vice captain) for Gameweek 10.There are many, many gaffers who prefer to keep the armband on Erling Haaland (£8.9m) regardless of the fixtures and it’s difficult to argue with that approach given he averages 12 points-per-game this season.However, could it be that Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) is actually the better option for the coming Gameweek?Home comfortsCredit: Dream TeamManchester City are due to travel to Bournemouth and Sporting CP amid an injury crisis; Pep Guardiola claimed he had just 13 players available after his side’s midweek defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.The champions have a flawless record against the Cherries but Andoni Iraola’s side knocked off Arsenal in their last home game and held Aston Villa to a draw last weekend.And it’s a bad time to visit the Portuguese champions as Ruben Amorim’s side have won all nine of their league games this season and remain undefeated in the Champions League.Haaland is a prolific goalscorer who could easily make a mockery of this double header but with many of his providers sidelined it might be an opportune moment to captain somebody else.Haaland has a habit of punishing his doubtersCredit: GettyThis is not to say Salah has exceedingly favourable fixtures.Liverpool are due to face Brighton again after their 3-2 win in the Carabao Cup on the south coast, only this time on home soil. The Seagulls are currently sixth in the table and are not to be underestimated but they tend to concede their fair share of goals and an injury to Lewis Dunk might render them more vulnerable than usual.Most read in FootballArne Slot’s troops will then host Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night.The defending Bundesliga champions represent tough opposition but they’re not the all-conquering underdogs they were last season – they’ve failed to win half their league games this term and are already five points behind Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWWhat Salah has over Haaland is the luxury of back-to-back home games.Liverpool boast such a strong record at Anfield and their Egyptian No11 remains the most potent threat – he’s racked up 133 points via eight goals and seven assists across the first nine Gameweeks of the season.The temptation to back Salah in back-to-back home games is strongCredit: GettyElsewhere, Bukayo Saka (£6.8m) is the most transferred-in player ahead of Gameweek 10 following his return to fitness and some Dream Team bosses may be tempted to strap the armband to Dream Team’s top midfielder.However, like Haaland, Arsenal’s No7 faces back-to-back away games in the form of Newcastle and Inter.The Magpies aren’t at their best right now but still those match-ups aren’t overly appealing.Last week, we suggested Bryan Mbeumo as a strong captaincy choice for those who wanted to go against the grain.Gaffers who took the risk were rewarded with a whopping 25-point return (doubled to 50!) from Brentford’s talisman.WildcardCredit: RexThis week, how about Alejandro Garnacho (£3.9m) as a left-field skipper?READ MORE SUN STORIESManchester United’s 20-year-old winger banked 20 points in Gameweek 9 and registered the most shots on target among midfield assets this season.The Red Devils will host Chelsea and PAOK in Gameweek 10 and if Garnacho starts both fixtures he could thrive again.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 10: Bukayo Saka once again essential in midfield

    DREAM TEAM managers have until 11am on Saturday morning to confirm their transfers for Gameweek 10.Many will wait until Friday’s press conferences for availability updates but allow us to put forward some recommendations for the time being.Last week we tipped Bryan Mbeumo (25 pts), Alejandro Garnacho (20 pts) and Savinho (17 pts) – let’s hope this week’s suggestions work out even half as well!A must-have star?Credit: APBukayo Saka (£6.8m)We usually wouldn’t bother recommending such an obvious name but, given the circumstances, Arsenal’s No7 is worthy of a mention.Dream Team bosses have had to contend with Mikel Arteta’s mind games in relation to Saka’s availability in recent weeks.The Spanish tactician gave an encouraging update prior to Gameweek 8 only for the England winger to miss both of the Gunners’ fixtures.Arteta then switched it up and suggested to reporters that Saka was unlikely to feature in Gameweek 9 before the 23-year-old featured against both Liverpool and Preston.With 113 points to his name, Saka is Dream Team’s top-performing midfielder this season and many gaffers consider him an essential asset when fit – it’s hard to disagree.Unfortunately, Saka’s quality comes at a significant cost, he’s comfortably the most expensive player in his position.Most read in FootballMatheus Nunes (£3.6m)Time to shineCredit: GettyWe had planned to repeat our Savinho recommendation but the lively Brazilian winger was stretchered off in midweek and is likely to be sidelined until the international break at the earliest.Fingers crossed he returns sooner rather than later.For the meantime, how about another Manchester City midfielder on the rise?The defending champions’ injury crisis meant Nunes played almost the full 180 minutes in Gameweek 9 and he capitalised to a great extent.The Portugal international took Southampton and Spurs for a combined 21 points, making him one of the top performers of the Gameweek.Nunes is quietly averaging a goal involvement every 67.3 minutes in all competitions this season.The 0.7%-owned midfielder should get plenty of minutes again in Gameweek 10 with City set to face Bournemouth and Sporting CP.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWDarwin Nunez (£4.2m)Hear us out…Credit: GettySome may see this suggestion as overly outlandish but allow us to make a case for the enigmatic Uruguayan.Firstly, he should be assured minutes in Gameweek 10 while Diogo Jota (£4.5m) continues his rehabilitation from injury.Secondly, Liverpool have the luxury of back-to-back home games with Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen set to visit Anfield in the coming days.The Reds boast such a formidable home record that it might be worth doubling up on their starting forwards – let’s be clear, Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) remains the priority selection but nobody needs to hear that from us.Nunez can be a frustrating Dream Team asset to own as he’s far from the most composed finisher in the world but his chaotic style causes serious problems for Liverpool’s opponents when everything clicks.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe recently banked a combined 16 points from games against RB Leipzig and Arsenal, relatively tough fixtures on paper.Predicting Luis Diaz (£4.3m) and Cody Gakpo’s (£4m) minutes is not all that easy right now and so Nunez might be a smart option to accompany Salah, for the next two Gameweeks at least.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Play Score Predictor ahead of Matchweek 10 and compete for £250 prize – read our top tips!

    THIS week’s Score Predictor fixtures will test your football instincts to the limit.But there’s no reason to shy away from playing, seeing as it’s free to enter and takes mere seconds with another £250 up for grabs.Play now!Credit: Dream TeamIt’s the usual procedure, simply submit your predictions for the five selected Premier League games and then sit back as you earn points for the accuracy of your forecast.Earn the most points and – ching ching – you’ll pocket the cash prize!In spirit of generosity, we’ve collated some key stats and facts for each of the Matchweek 10 fixtures…Bournemouth v Manchester CityThe first thing to note about this match-up is that it’s the most one-sided in Premier League history.Pep Guardiola’s side have won all 14 league meetings with the Cherries since the latter were promoted to the top flight in 2015.And City scored at least four goals in half of those games.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWLast season’s corresponding fixture at the Vitality Stadium was a more competitive affair, a narrow 1-0 win for the visitors thanks to Phil Foden’s first-half winner.Most read in FootballThe historical record suggests a comfortable away win but the defending champions are in the midst of an injury crisis.Following Wednesday night’s loss to Spurs, Guardiola told reporters he has just “13 players” available; a situation that could destabilise any team.Although there’s still plenty of talent among those 13 players, including goal machine Erling Haaland and last season’s Player of the Year Phil Foden.Bournemouth upset Arsenal on the south coast two weeks ago and so a giant-killing is feasible for Andoni Iraola’s men but only bravest Score Predictor users bet against City.Our Prediction: 2-1 to Man CityCity have several key injuries to contend with ahead of Matchweek 10Credit: RexWolves v Crystal PalaceThe Eagles got a much-needed league win against Tottenham last weekend while Gary O’Neil’s men are still searching for their first of 2024/25.Wolves have mustered just two points this season and will be desperate to spark an upturn now their schedule appears more favourable – Palace have just six points to their name.The hosts will have been encouraged by their late comeback to salvage a draw at Brighton last time out but there’s no escaping the fact their back line is extremely vulnerable – 25 goals conceded makes for the worst defence in the top flight at present.However, Oliver Glasner’s side have scored just six league goals so far, the joint-lowest tally.It’s hard to predict what will happen when a blunt attack meets a leaky defence but we fancy Wolves to break their duck this weekend.Our Prediction: 2-1 to WolvesWolves are desperate for a winCredit: AFPTottenham v Aston VillaA potentially entertaining match-up between two sides who often adopt high defensive lines.Unai Emery’s troops came away from North London with three points last season but Spurs took their revenge in the form of a 4-0 drubbing at Villa Park in March. It’s not all that easy to gauge where Ange Postecoglou’s side are at heading into the weekend as they were horribly underwhelming against Palace last weekend but a Carabao Cup victory over Man City in midweek is a notable feather in the cap.The Villains are undefeated in their last seven league games but recent draws against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Ipswich revealed room for improvements.Villa have kept just one clean sheet in the league this term.Our Prediction: 2-2 drawDefeat at Palace was offset by a cup win over Man CityCredit: PAManchester United v ChelseaScore Predictor users will have to consider to what extent they believe in the power of a new manager bounce when weighing up this fixture.The Red Devils beat Leicester 5-2 in their first outing since Erik ten Hag’s departure but the Foxes fielded a second-string team in the Carabao Cup; Sunday’s game at Old Trafford will be a sterner test.The Blues haven’t beaten Man United away from home in the league since the 2012/2013 campaign but they did win the most recent meeting at Stamford Bridge, thanks to a Cole Palmer hat-trick back in April.Chelsea are a full nine places above their opponents heading into the weekend having scored more than twice as many league goals at this stage.However, their miserable recent record at Old Trafford is hard to look past.Our Prediction: 2-2 drawRuud van Nistelrooy is in charge for the Red Devils for the time beingCredit: GettyFulham v BrentfordThomas Frank’s side boast the best home record in the Premier League right now but have lost all four of their away games.Monday night’s trip is a short one with Craven Cottage just a few miles away but it’s simply true that the Bees have faltered when denied home comforts this season.Generally speaking, Brentford pack more of a punch in attack, led by the in-form Bryan Mbeumo, but Fulham are tighter at the back.These West London rivals are next to each other in the table, separated by just a point, and so the temptation is to back a draw but Brentford’s away form is a significant red flag.READ MORE SUN STORIESOur Prediction: 2-1 to FulhamEnter your predictions for Matchweek 10 and put yourself in contention for the £250 cash prize!BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Is Lucas Digne the best value-for-money defender in Dream Team right now?

    LUCAS DIGNE (£3.6m) is rolling back the years this season.The 31-year-old has amassed 67 Dream Team points and ranks seventh among defenders at the time of writing.Despite his impressive start to the campaign, the Frenchman is still available for just £3.6m and could well be considered the standout value-for-money asset in his position right now.Digne has offered affordable returns so far this seasonCredit: Dream TeamRico Lewis (£4m), who ranks second among defenders having earned 82 points, was undoubtedly the bargain selection throughout the first few Gameweeks but the Manchester City teenager is no longer in the affordable price bracket.In fact, Digne is the only defender with 60+ points to his name who is currently available for less than £4m.When Aston Villa signed Ian Maatsen (£3m) from Chelsea in a deal worth £37.5million, it seemed that Digne would have to be content with a back-up role.However, the ex-Everton man has established himself as Unai Emery’s first-choice left-back with the Dutchman having been generally limited to substitute appearances.Emery has mostly preferred Digne to Maatsen at left-backCredit: EPADigne ranks second in his position for assists (three) and third for big chances created (five).But it’s not just his attacking attributes that have made him such a savvy selection.Only seven defenders have made more tackles and he’s among the top ten for clean sheets too – although the Villains’ could improve in that department as they’ve kept just one in nine league outings so far.Most read in FootballThe points total is the number that matters most and Digne’s is very healthy indeed.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWVilla are due to host Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup this evening before Gameweek 10 brings a double header against Tottenham and Club Brugge.After that, Emery’s men face the daunting task of a trip to Anfield just before the international break.Villa’s only league clean sheet came against Manchester UnitedCredit: EPADigne may have to wait a little while longer to boost his league clean sheet tally given the testing nature of those match-ups but as long as he keeps posing a creative threat going forward he should tick over nicely.After the break, Villa will play Palace, Chelsea, Brentford and Southampton (alongside Champions League commitments) in what is likely to be a more favourable run of league games.Digne is currently the fifth-most popular defender in Dream Team with an ownership of 14.2%.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Bryan Mbeumo justifies popularity surge as he joins exclusive Dream Team 100 Club

    DON’T you just love it when a plan comes together?Prior to Gameweek 9, we mentioned Bryan Mbeumo (£4.4m) among our transfer recommendations and captaincy suggestions ahead of his double header against Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday.Many Dream Team managers heeded our advice as Brentford’s talisman was comfortably the most transferred-in player last week.A hero to Dream Team bosses worldwideCredit: Dream TeamPopular punts of this ilk occasionally fall short of expectations but Mbeumo delivered in spades in the form of a whopping 25-point return.At the time of writing, he’s the top performer among all assets in Gameweek 9!The Cameroon international bagged a brace during the Bees’ dramatic 4-3 win over the Tractor Boys last Saturday, including a last-gasp winner in the 96th minute.That effort yielded 17 points but he wasn’t done there.Who needs Ivan Toney?Credit: GettyWith a spot in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at stake, Thomas Frank elected to start Mbeumo against the Owls on Tuesday night.The hosts made hard work of it against Championship opposition at the Gtech Community Stadium, eventually advancing via a penalty shootout.Mbeumo didn’t register a goal involvement but he did notch three bonus points, two shots on target and a big chance created for a useful eight-point return.Most read in FootballAll things considered, the 25-year-old picked an excellent time to produce his most fruitful Gameweek of the season – many gaffers will be immensely satisfied with the results of their latest transfers.The face of a Dream Team centurionCredit: ReutersMbeumo has been nothing short of sensational from the get-go and he’s one of just five players to have joined the 100 Club at this early stage of the campaign.PLAYERS WITH 100+ DREAM TEAM POINTS THIS SEASONErling Haaland – 144 ptsMohamed Salah – 132 ptsBukayo Saka – 111 ptsBryan Mbeumo – 103 ptsCole Palmer – 101 ptsWhat’s notable is that the three players above Mbeumo in the rankings are the most expensive players in the game, with European commitments to bolster their schedules.Haaland is the only player to have scored more goals than Brentford’s No17 in all competitions and no midfielder has registered more shots on target.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWMbeumo’s form is nothing short of scintillating but it should be noted that his viability peaked in Gameweek 9 and now dips.This is purely because Brentford have six fixtures to fulfil across the next five Gameweeks whereas the clubs active in Europe will be in action nine times during the same period.READ MORE SUN STORIESMbeumo has proved himself capable of keeping pace with the game’s top assets without European fixtures to this point but Dream Team bosses should generally target the additional competitions for bumper returns.Naturally, the 18.8% of gaffers who currently own Mbeumo certainly won’t be in a hurry to replace him, especially with another inevitable price increase to come.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Ultimate differential option Matheus Cunha should cash in during Wolves’ favourable run of fixtures

    DREAM TEAM managers who played the game last season will remember a spell when Matheus Cunha (£4.1m) was a hugely effective differential option.The Wolves forward’s viability peaked in early February when he bagged a hat-trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.While he’s yet to replicate a performance of that extreme nature this term, it’s high time his efforts were analysed and praised.Currently overlooked by 99.3% of Dream Team bossesCredit: Dream TeamCunha is statistically the third most in-form forward in the game at the time of writing having plundered 27 points from his last three appearances.Most recently, he capped a fine all-round display against Brighton with a 93rd-minute equaliser for a 12-point return – his best haul of the campaign to date.The 25-year-old has scored four goals this season and can count himself desperately unlucky not to have registered an assist as only three forwards – Mohamed Salah (£7.4m), Cody Gakpo (£4m), Marcus Rashford (£4m) – have created more big chances for their team-mates.Additionally, Cunha is eighth in his position for tackles and first for bonus points – he ranks highly for successful dribbles, accurate crosses, fouls won and interceptions!A class actCredit: GettyGary O’Neil’s side have endured a tough start to the season having already faced Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City in the league.Even accounting for their tricky fixtures, there’s no disguising the fact Wolves’ meagre tally of two points is bitterly disappointing.However, the Molineux faithful will be hopeful of an upturn in results as the schedule now switches in their favour.Most read in FootballWolves are due to face Crystal Palace, Southampton, Fulham, Bournemouth, Everton, West Ham, Ipswich and Leicester in a relatively friendly run that will take them to Christmas.Cunha’s ability to accumulate Dream Team points through various avenues combined with a string of favourable match-ups could yield plentiful returns.Wolves desperately need a winCredit: AlamyThe downside to this strategy is the comparatively low number of games available to the Brazil international.Cunha’s fixtures may be favourable but without European or Carabao Cup commitments, he will play a maximum of eight times from the start of Gameweek 10 until Christmas.Whereas Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Tottenham will be in action at least 11 times in the same time frame – Chelsea are due to play 12 games as it stands.That being said, Cunha outperformed several high-profile players with busier schedules during his most fruitful spell last season and is capable of the same again in the coming weeks if everything clicks.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWIn many ways, he’s the ultimate differential option right now as he currently features in just 0.7% of teams.He has the highest points total (67) of all players with an ownership below 1%.READ MORE SUN STORIESPlus, his average of 6.7 points-per-game is superior to that of Kai Havertz (£5m), Ollie Watkins (£5.7m), Alexander Isak (£4.7m) and several other popular strikers.Selecting Cunha comes with risk but he should be high up the shortlist for gaffers who want to go against the grain.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More