Brighton FPL Gameweek 2: Magic Mitoma shows no sign of injury
Over eight million fans flocked back to FPL for the 2024-25 Premier League season and a significant number would have come into the opening weekend wondering if Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma would be the same player after three months out with a back injury.
They soon had their answer. Mitoma set the Albion on their way to a fantastic 3-0 win away at Everton, giving Fabian Hurzeler an emphatic start to life as Seagulls head coach.
Hurzeler will take charge at the Amex for the first time in FPL Gameweek 2 when Brighton host Manchester United; a game in which Mitoma will be central to the Albion’s chances of extending their impressive record against Erik ten Hag’s side.
Brighton have beaten United four times in their last five meetings. With that in mind, here are the Seagulls assets FPL managers should be considering.
Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5 million)
Nobody at Goodison Park outdid Mitoma’s four attempts, three shots on target and eight penalty area touches. His opening goal came from one of those touches, tapping in a Yankuba Minteh (£5.5 million) cross from close range.
A back injury might have dominated the second half of last season for Mitoma, but he was almost unstoppable through the opening six games of the campaign. He racked up three goals and three assists in that time.
Whilst many FPL managers will be keeping an eye on his fitness, Mitoma looks a differential pick who could escalate in ownership with another good showing against United.
Mitoma is in the competitive £6.5 million price bracket and could be an outlet if managers suddently have a desire to sell assets like Christopher Nkunku or Alejandro Garnacho.
Joel Veltman (£4.5 million)
Two of the most heavily-owned Brighton assets heading into FPL Gameweek 1 were Joao Pedro (£5.5 million) and Valentin Barco (£4.0 million).
If rumours linking Barco with a season long loan at Sevilla prove to be true, there will be a made rush to sell the teenage left back.
In contrast, less than one percent of FPL managers have opted for Joel Veltman. Brighton fans know how good the Dutchman is but he remains criminally underrated by the rest of the football world.
It took until Gameweek 20 for the Seagulls to record a clean sheet last season – the final team to do so – yet here they were successful at the first time of asking against Everton.
This shut-out and an accumulation of seven clearances, blocks and interceptions enabled Veltman to be awarded a couple of bonus points, finishing on a total of eight.
It was a haul better than any he managed across the whole of last season and a performance which should guarantee he keeps his place in Hurzeler’s starting XI for the foreseeable future.
After facing United and travelling to Arsenal on August Bank Holiday Weekend, Brighton have consecutive home matches against Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest in Gameweeks 4 and 5. The potential for clean sheet bonuses from Albion defenders is obvious.
Captaincy
Meanwhile, the dominant armband choice amongst the community will almost certainly be Manchester City forward Erling Haaland (£15.0 million).
Being awarded the highest starting price in FPL history going into the 2024-25 season did not deter over 50 percent of managers from purchasing him.
They were immediately rewarded with a goal at Chelsea. Next Haaland faces Ipswich Town, a side who were playing League One football just 16 months ago.
Both Haaland’s previous Premier League campaigns started with at least one early home hat-trick. It would be no surprise to see him add another against the Tractor Boys.
For those without the expensive Norwegian, any attacking Manchester City or Tottenham asset is worthy of captaincy.
Names like Phil Foden (£9.5 million), Son Heung-min (£10.0 million) and Dominic Solanke (£7.5 million) will all be popular.
Spurs host Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Sean Dyche’s side reeling from that humbling at the hands of Hurzeler.
You can pick up expert advice throughout the 2024-25 Fantasy Premier League season with Fantasy Football Scout
