Brighton FPL Gameweek 31: In-form Danny Welbeck is Dat Guy for Albion

Now that he is fit and in his best form of the season, there is one Brighton & Hove Albion player who FPL managers will be turning to ahead of gameweek 31 and the Seagulls’ meeting with Everton – Dat Guy Danny Welbeck.

Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester United saw Danny Welbeck (£5.5 million) score the opener against his former club, delivering a third attacking return in as many Brighton matches to place himself on the FPL differential radar.

Dat Guy has been thriving since Graham Potter decided to deploy split strikers in the 3-0 win over Newcastle United. He scored against the Toon having claimed an assist away at Southampton when teeing up Leandro Trossard for the Albion’s winner at St Mary’s.

Move away from goals and assists and Welbeck has been backing up those numbers with sustainable underlying statistics too. Over the last six gameweeks, Dat Guy has produced more big chances than any team-mate (four).

Welbeck hitting form has come at a time when FPL managers are struggling to staff their forward lines with reliable options from clubs outside the traditional big six, thanks to a combination of tricky fixture lists and injuries.

FPL favourite Patrick Bamford (£6.7 million) has a challenging run of matches on the horizon with The Leeds United whilst West Ham United’s Michail Antonio (£6.7 million) is potentially facing more time on the sidelines.

Fantasy managers are also likely preparing for double gameweek 32 in which Spurs play twice, so signing Welbeck for a relatively cheap fee now could help them save money for expensive purchases elsewhere.

Everton will arrive at the Amex still without first choice goalkeeper and 2018 World Cup hero Jordan Pickford (£4.8 million) and the Toffees have conceded in each of their last two fixtures without him, so goals seem likely – especially as Brighton have become more clinical in recent weeks.

Neal Maupay (£6.1 million) is therefore also worth considering for any FPL managers looking to make a change up front. The French forward is top for goal attempts across the Albion over the last six (nine), just ahead of team-mates Leandro Trossard (£5.8 million), Joel Veltman (£4.4 million), Pascal Groß (£5.8 million) and Welbeck who have all have eight each.

Gross has the added attraction of set piece responsibilities (sEt pEiCE meRcHAnT), taking 34 corners in the last six gameweeks with eight successful.

His deliveries at Old Trafford were particularly impressive on should have led to goals for Lewis Dunk and Jakub Moder, who were denied by an outstanding Dean Henderson save and an unfortunate deflection respectively.

Captain Fantastic
Gameweek 31 could be the perfect time for a differential captain considering how many of the usual captaincy suspects face more challenging fixtures.

First place to look is Southampton, where England duo Danny Ings (£8.4 million) and James Ward-Prowse (£5.9 million) have a potentially great fixture against West Bromwich Albion if you believe that the Baggies’ win over Chelsea last week was a one-off.

Returning to the Saints starting XI after missing two gameweeks with injury, Ings picked up 11 points against Burnley. Meanwhile, Ward-Prowse’s set piece duties could make him a great option ahead of a trip to the Hawthorns, with Southampton second for goals from such scenarios in the Premier League this season.

Away from Southampton, Liverpool’s Diogo Jota (£6.8 million) has returned 20 points in his last two matches. In gameweek 31, he faces an Aston Villa side that have conceded in each of their last three games.

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