Mane carries strong FPL form onto the international stage

Our very first Scout Notes article of the November international break deals with the matches contested on Wednesday and the early part of Thursday.

We’ll be bringing you regular round-ups from across the globe over the coming week, detailing the minutes played and any injuries picked up.

A club-by-club list of the Fantasy Premier League assets on duty with their respective countries is available here.

Senegal 2-0 Congo

• Cheikhou Kouyate (£4.9m) – 90 minutes
• Sadio Mane (£12.1m) – 84 minutes
• Ismaila Sarr (£6.2m) – 56 minutes

Sadio Mane (£12.1m) supplied the assist for Senegal’s second goal as they cruised to a 2-0 win over Congo in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Wednesday.

Mane’s cross from the left was headed in by Habib Diallo as the hosts established a two-goal lead before half an hour had even been played.

The Liverpool winger was evidently enjoying himself as the gulf in class became apparent, with the premium FPL midfielder earning the usual rave reviews for his display.

On what was a suspect-looking surface, Mane (who cursed the turf after whistling one shot over the bar) appeared to have emerged from the encounter unscathed when being replaced on 84 minutes.

Ismaila Sarr (£6.2m) was not quite so lucky, reportedly picking up an ankle injury just after the interval and having to be substituted soon after.

The Watford winger has just returned from a hamstring injury that had limited his involvement at club level over the past month.

Crystal Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyate (£4.9m) played the full game in defence, as he often does for his country.

Mane and Senegal are next in action on Sunday against Eswatini.

Lebanon 0-0 South Korea

• Son Heung-min (£9.6m) – 90 minutes

The 7.5% of FPL managers who own Son Heung-min (£9.6m) will have been relieved to see the Spurs midfielder come through the first of two games that he is scheduled to play over the November international break.

Son lasted the full 90 minutes in Beirut as South Korea kept up their unbeaten record in the World Cup 2022 qualification campaign, although the premium Fantasy asset and his country drew a blank for the second successive game as they were held to another goalless draw.

Son was reportedly kept quiet by the hosts and their defender Alex Melki.

South Korea next face Brazil in an international friendly in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday afternoon, giving Son just under four days to get back to the UK ahead of Spurs’ match against West Ham United in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.

Nigeria 2-1 Benin

• Wilfred Ndidi (£5.0m) – 90 minutes
• Alex Iwobi (£5.7m) – 90 minutes

Nigeria came from behind to get their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign off to a winning start.

Alex Iwobi (£5.7m) lasted the full 90 minutes in the number ten role he has occasionally occupied for Everton this season, with Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi (£5.0m) also completing the game further back in central midfield.

The Super Eagles next face Lesotho in another AFCON qualifier on Sunday.

Egypt 1-1 Kenya

• Trezeguet (£5.2m) – 90 minutes
• Victor Wanyama (£4.8m) – 90 minutes

As we mentioned previously, Mohamed Salah‘s (£12.3m) niggling ankle problem has seen him ruled out of Egypt’s two fixtures over the next week.

The premium midfielder had travelled to Africa for a consultation with the national team doctor and head coach but was subsequently excused from international duty.

Salah had been pictured with ice on his ankle after the Gameweek 12 win over Manchester City and was spotted wearing a protective boot when joining up with his country on Tuesday.

In the Liverpool winger’s absence, Egypt drew 1-1 with Kenya in their opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.

Aston Villa winger Trezeguet (£5.2m) came close to scoring a winner but saw an 82nd-minute shot cleared off the line.

Both he and Victor Wanyama (£4.8m) lasted the full 90 minutes.

Jordan 0-1 Australia

• Mathew Ryan (£4.7m) – 90 minutes
• Aaron Mooy (£4.8m) – 90 minutes

The leading points-scorer among FPL goalkeepers had to be at his best to preserve Australia’s narrow lead in their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Amman.

Mathew Ryan (£4.7m), who has four clean sheets, 11 save points and 11 bonus points to his name in FPL this season, produced an excellent low stop to keep out Hamza Al-Dardour’s header late on.

Ryan repelled another strike in stoppage time as Australia moved five points clear at the top of their group.

Aaron Mooy (£4.8m) also completed the game for the visitors, sending a free-kick off-target and seeing a shot deflected wide in the first half.

That was the Socceroos’ one and only fixture of the international break so the two Brighton teammates will now return to England in plenty of time for Gameweek 13.

Kyrgyzstan 0-2 Japan

• Maya Yoshida (£4.4m) – 90 minutes

Maya Yoshida (£4.4m), who lost his place in the Southampton starting XI following a dismal display in the 9-0 loss to Leicester City, had an altogether more enjoyable evening in Bishkek on Thursday.

The Saints stopper earned his 100th cap for his national side in Japan’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Kyrgyzstan, completing the full 90 minutes.

Round-up

Bukayo Saka (£4.5m) claimed an assist in a 4-0 win over Luxembourg in the first of three matches that England under-19s will contest over the international break.

The 1.0%-owned Arsenal winger, whose run of six Premier League appearances was ended in Gameweek 12, lasted the first 71 minutes before being replaced by Everton’s Anthony Gordon (£4.5m).

Norwich City striker Adam Idah (£4.5m) played the first 86 minutes and set up the winner as the Republic of Ireland under-21s beat their Armenian counterparts 1-0.

We’ll round up the rest of Thursday’s matches in our next Scout Notes article tomorrow.

Nominated for ‘Best in Fantasy Football – Editorial’ at the Football Content Awards 2020

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