The Scout is tipping four players for big success in Gameweek 22 of 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League ahead of Saturday’s 11:00 GMT deadline, to help managers gain an edge over their mini-league rivals.

Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) £9.1m

The Portuguese playmaker made his comeback from injury in Gameweek 21.

Fernandes provided an assist and collected two bonus points against Burnley, despite being restricted, as planned due to a lack of training time, to an hour.

That return against the Clarets lifted his points-per-match average to 5.9, the third-best among midfielders.

Fernandes’ multiple routes to points make him one of the greatest all-rounders in Fantasy.

He’s joint-second among midfielders for attacking returns, with 13, while no one can better his tally of 19 bonus points.

On penalties, direct free-kicks and corners, he’s even collected defensive contribution points on four occasions.

His open-play goal threat could also be boosted by the appointment of Michael Carrick. The interim Manchester United head coach has promised attacking football under his stewardship, while the ex-Middlesbrough boss’ preference for a 4-2-3-1 formation could see Fernandes redeployed in an attacking midfield role.

“Hopefully, we can play a really exciting type of football and be positive and express and bring excitement. I want to be off my seat. I want to be enjoying watching the boys play,” Carrick said.

Fernandes had previously operated as a deeper central midfielder in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.

An encounter with Manchester City this weekend might seem like a tricky entry point, but Fernandes has delivered a goal or assist in six of his last nine competitive meetings with Pep Guardiola’s men.

Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) £8.9m

After missing the last two Gameweeks with a minor hamstring injury, Ekitike returned to action in Monday’s FA Cup win over Barnsley.

Liverpool’s top goalscorer came off the bench to great effect against the League One side, registering a goal and an assist in a 30-minute cameo.

It sets the Frenchman up well for a potential start against Burnley in Gameweek 22.

The Clarets are one of just three teams yet to keep a clean sheet away from home. Scott Parker’s side have conceded 26 goals in only 10 matches on their travels.

As for Ekitike, his points-per-start average of 6.1 is better than all but two Fantasy forwards. It even trumps the 6.0 of the in-form and in-demand Igor Thiago (£7.1m), the most-bought player of Gameweek 22.

Following the visit of Burnley are two teams the Liverpool striker has already scored against this season: AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United.

It suggests that Ekitike’s status as the most-sold forward of Gameweek 22, likely influenced by the yellow flag that has since been removed, is undeserved.

Mateus Mane (Wolves) £4.5m

One of the two forwards to better Ekitike for points per start is the budget-friendly Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Mane.

The teenage attacker has been a revelation since coming into Rob Edwards’ side in Gameweek 18, making four successive starts and delivering three attacking returns.

Mane has averaged 6.3 points per start in doing so.

While he’s operating from a deeper midfield role, Edwards’ 3-5-2 system allows him to drive forward and support the front two. In fact, over the last four Gameweeks, he’s had 11 shots – more than all but five other forwards.

With Fernandes back fit and Cole Palmer’s (£10.4m) Chelsea about to embark on a favourable run of fixtures, many Fantasy managers are looking to downgrade their forwards to reinvest the cash into midfield.

Mane could be an ideal third forward, then, freeing up budget to be spent elsewhere.

While he’d likely be a player to keep on your bench in most weeks and be an emergency substitute for many Fantasy managers, he and Wolves have two favourable home fixtures in Gameweeks 22 and 24, when they take on Newcastle United and AFC Bournemouth respectively.

Both teams are in the bottom seven for away results in 2025/26, while the Cherries have conceded more goals than any other club on their travels.

Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland) £4.4m

Despite rising in price from £4.0m to £4.4m over the course of the season, Mukiele still remains a bargain.

In fact, even based on current cost, he is still the best-value defender in Fantasy: the Frenchman has delivered 20.9 points per million spent.

Currently among the top 10 defenders for overall points, he’s delivered a clean sheet and/or defensive contribution points in each of the last six Gameweeks.

The upcoming fixtures give him a great opportunity to extend that run.

Sunderland’s next three opponents, Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Burnley, are all in the bottom six for goals scored in 2025/26.