Premier League fantasy football: The most frustrating defender is back – but is he worth the risk?
One of the Premier League’s most frustrating players is BACK.
Benjamin Mendy returned to Man City’s starting line-up at the weekend – playing the first 45 minutes of their 8-0 demolition of Watford – and registered 5 points for Dream Team in the process.
But since joining the club in 2017, Mendy’s been in and out of the treatment room, with his most recent knee injury keeping him sidelined for an excruciatingly long 121 days.
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On his day, the Frenchman is perhaps one of the best full-backs in world football.
He’s defensively sound, but also competent in attack – renowned for his ability to get forward and contribute to City’s offensive play.
And that makes him a very enticing option for fantasy football, as defenders that can rake in assists are worth their weight in gold.
And that makes him one of Dream Team’s more expensive defenders and considering how unreliable he is – is he really worth the risk?
Mendy has only managed to play 24 times for City in three years due to his horrific luck with injuries.
It’s certainly been frustrating for his manager Pep Guardiola, whose side paid a fortune for the former Monaco star, but have been forced to use a number of different players to replace Mendy on the left of his back-line – from converted midfielders Aleks Zinchenko and Fabian Delph, through to new signing Angelino.
But none of them compare to the natural brilliance of Mendy.
We’ve been treated to the odd false dawn here and there before, too.
For example, Mendy started last season like a house on fire, banishing the memory of his injury nightmare and registering four assists in his first three games.
But it didn’t last, with FOUR separate injuries disrupting his early-season form and City’s busy festive period.
It all ended in the Champions League quarter-finals last season, when he limped out of their second-leg match against Spurs.
He hasn’t been seen since.
But now he’s on the mend, is it time to put him back into your Dream Team?
At present, only 0.3% of you have opted for the Frenchman, although that number could rise if he proves to be fit and healthy over the coming weeks.
And that’s really all we can suggest.
Mendy’s brilliance is only out-weighed by his constant setbacks, so if you’re considering transferring him into your side, then be sure to monitor his fitness – paying particular notice to our regular injury update articles.
Considering City’s injury problems in defence at the moment, Mendy’s return has come at a very good time for Pep.
City are next in action against Preston during the week in the Carabao Cup, and this could be a good opportunity for Mendy to register 90 minutes of football.
As always, be wary of Pep’s infuriating rotation policy, as you never know which players he’s going to rest, or when.
At the weekend, Raheem Sterling sat out of the win over Watford, while in-form playmaker Kevin de Bruyne was benched for the defeat to Norwich.
It’s enough to make you want to tear your hair out.