The Scout shows how you can use your Wildcard chip to navigate the troublesome Blank Gameweek 34 while also setting yourself up for the rest of the season in Fantasy Premier League.

Have you logged on to the FPL app or website and discovered that you are in trouble in Blank Gameweek 34, struggling to field 11 players because six clubs don’t have a Premier League match this weekend?

If so, the Free Hit chip offers the easiest solution, allowing you pick a whole new squad just for this one Gameweek.

But if you don’t have that chip available, because you’ve already used it in the second half of the season, the Wildcard chip is also an option. It enables you to pick a new squad for the rest of the campaign, solving your short-term problems in BGW34 while also setting you up for the other four remaining Gameweeks.

So, if your best option is to Wildcard now, who should you pick? We’ve got you covered ahead of Friday’s 18:30 BST deadline…

Load up on Man City and Palace players

Manchester City’s home match against Crystal Palace, which was postponed due to the EFL Cup final versus Arsenal taking place on the same weekend as the original date, is the only fixture which has yet to be rescheduled this season.

Both teams are expected to be given a Double Gameweek when the new date is confirmed by the Premier League.

A triple-up on Man City looks essential as they battle Arsenal for the title and, while Erling Haaland (£14.5m) and Nico O’Reilly (£5.1m) are must-haves, Rayan Cherki’s (£6.4m) improving output marks him out as a great alternative to Antoine Semenyo (£8.2m) in midfield.

Semenyo is the most-owned midfielder in Fantasy, found in over 49 per cent of squads, but he has now blanked in each of his last four starts to total only nine points.

Cherki can be found in just under 10 per cent of squads and has produced 28 points across his last four starts, scoring once and supplying three assists.

 

In the case of Crystal Palace, their ongoing involvement in the UEFA Conference League has resulted in rotation in attack recently, with Ismaila Sarr (£6.3m) benched in each of the last two Gameweeks.

At the moment, goalkeeper Dean Henderson (£5.1m) looks a secure pick, while Chris Richards (£4.4m) is an ideal budget asset for your defence. 

 

Back Arsenal at both ends of the pitch

Arsenal’s title battle with Man City could be decided by goals scored, with both clubs identical for points and goal difference.

Centre-back Gabriel (£7.1m) is a must-have due to his impact in both defence and attack, while Eberechi Eze (£7.2m) could prove a great overlooked asset, with an ownership of eight per cent.

Arsenal have three home matches over the next four Gameweeks and Eze’s average of 7.0 points per start at Emirates Stadium this season is second only to Gabriel’s 7.1.

Watkins and Bowen up front

Ollie Watkins (£8.7m) and Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m) have the form to merit places in your forward line.

Aston Villa’s Watkins has six goals and an assist over his last five matches in all competitions. Following the trip to Fulham in BGW34, Villa face Spurs and Burnley. 

Bowen has stepped up his influence for West Ham United recently, supplying six assists over his last six matches. If the Hammers are to successfully avoid relegation, he is very likely to be involved.

Find good value in defence and midfield

Bowen’s team-mate Konstantinos Mavropanos (£4.5m) is the top-scoring player in Fantasy over his last four matches. The centre-back has scored three goals and earned two clean sheets to total 42 points.

Sunderland centre-back Omar Alderete (£4.1m) and Fulham winger Harry Wilson (£6.0m) have similarly favourable run-ins. They each have three home matches and a visit to relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers across the remaining five Gameweeks.

Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£5.1m) can also be a huge source value thanks to the Toffees’ kind schedule. According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), three of the Toffees’ final five matches score only two.