Five players for your Fantasy team this week

The final international break of 2024 is behind us and the focus from now until March is firmly on club matters, which will be music to the ears of Fantasy Football lovers.

With another busy weekend of action to come in the Premier League, here are five players you should consider adding to your fantasy squad.

Nick Pope, Newcastle (Goalkeeper)

After a relatively slow start to the season, Newcastle were finding their feet before the international break, winning three matches on the bounce across all competitions, including back-to-back league successes against Arsenal and high-flying Nottingham Forest.

The Magpies have been solid defensively all season — only Forest and leaders Liverpool have conceded fewer top-flight goals — with goalkeeper Pope playing a key part in that resilience.

Only two goalkeepers have made more saves than Pope (42) in the league this season and after being overlooked for international duty with England, he should be fresh for Monday night's clash with a misfiring West Ham side that failed to score in their two matches before the break.

Noussair Mazraoui, Manchester United (Defender)

A new era begins for Manchester United on Sunday, with Ruben Amorim taking charge for the first time when they head to Portman Road to face Ipswich, and that could lead to some big individual performances with players eager to impress.

One of those who could shine is full-back Mazraoui, who has actually made a strong start to his United career, registering more tackles (39) than any other player in the Premier League this season.

A regular under both Erik ten Hag and Ruud van Nistelrooy, Mazraoui should be trusted by Amorim and he may be able to rack up plenty of fantasy points against an Ipswich side yet to win at home this season.

Harry Wilson, Fulham (Midfielder)

Wilson is yet to start a Premier League match for Fulham this season, but he may get his chance when Wolves visit Craven Cottage on Saturday, given he has scored three goals across his last two appearances from the bench.

Those goals came in just 16 minutes of football for the Wales international, who will fancy his chances of adding to that tally against a Wolves side that has conceded the most goals in the top-flight this season, shipping 27 across their 11 games.

Even if Wilson does not start, fantasy players should not feel despondent given his exploits from the bench over recent weeks.

Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United (Midfielder) 

A second Manchester United player on this list indicates the Red Devils should make a strong start under Amorim, and Portugal international Fernandes certainly appears to have been finding his feet ahead of his compatriot's arrival.

After failing to score under Ten Hag this season, United's captain netted four in four with Van Nistelrooy in interim charge, while he also notched two assists during that time.

Fernandes then took that return to form into the international break, netting in Portugal's 5-1 demolition of Poland, and he will be as keen as anyone to show Amorim what he can do.

Cody Gakpo, Liverpool (Forward)

Top visit bottom in the Premier League on Sunday as leaders Liverpool head to St Mary's Stadium to take on struggling Southampton and the visitors will expect to not only win, but do so in style.

Reds boss Arne Slot has an abundance of attacking talent to choose from, including the in-form Gakpo, who has struck four in his last four Liverpool appearances and was also on the scoresheet for the Netherlands over the international break.

Gakpo notched a brace in Liverpool's last away match — which was also on the south coast at Brighton — while he was also on the scoresheet on his most recent visit to Southampton in May 2023. History and recent form suggests the 25-year-old can deliver again this weekend.