Gameweek 8 in Fantasy Premier League is almost upon us, and there are a few interesting names worth looking at ahead of the weekend. Phil Foden might finally be finding his feet again at Manchester City, while some cheaper options are putting up numbers that deserve more attention. Here are five players I’d consider bringing in this week.

Alex Iwobi

Price: 5.4m
Ownership: 1.1%
Position: Midfielder
Opponent: COV (A), AVL (A), NEW (H)

Fulham’s season hasn’t exactly taken off, but Iwobi is worth a look if you need a cheap midfielder. He finally scored against Hull last weekend and his involvement was hard to miss: four shots from close range and 12 successful passes into the opposition box. He’s also created six big chances this season, despite having no assists to show for it. That’s the sort of number that can turn into points quickly if his team-mates start finishing. Coventry away is up next, followed by Villa and Newcastle. At 5.4m and barely one per cent ownership, Iwobi could prove a handy differential rather than just another bench filler.

Bryan Mbeumo

Price: 7.8m
Ownership: 20.5%
Position: Midfielder
Opponent: BOU (H), CHE (A), AVL (H)

There hasn’t been much to celebrate at Manchester United, but Mbeumo has quietly become a very decent FPL pick. Four goals and an assist in seven matches, with 4.84 expected goal involvements, isn’t the sort of output you can dismiss as luck. More importantly, he’s played every league minute and keeps getting shots away from dangerous positions. Bournemouth come to Old Trafford having struggled to shut teams out, which should suit his habit of drifting inside from the right. Chelsea away in Gameweek 9 is tougher, but Villa at home follows. At 7.8m, I’d rather buy his goal threat than pay a premium for Bruno Fernandes.

Phil Foden

Price: 6.8m
Ownership: 1.9%
Position: Midfielder
Opponent: AVL (A), BHA (H), NFO (A)

Foden looks like one of those transfers that could be brilliant in a fortnight or leave you tearing your hair out over the team sheet. He scored against Ipswich last weekend, then followed it with a hat-trick against AEK Athens in midweek. Four goals in two games is a pretty convincing argument that his old form might be returning. At 6.8m and around two per cent ownership, the upside is obvious. Villa have allowed chances this season, while Brighton and Forest follow. Antoine Semenyo is injured but Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku mean minutes are still a worry, but after watching him find those pockets around the box again, I’m tempted to get in early for a Foden purple patch. 

Liam Delap

Price: 5.5m
Ownership: 1.9%
Position: Forward
Opponent: IPS (A), BRE (A), MCI (H)

If you’re looking for a genuine one-week punt, Delap is worth a look. He returns to former club Ipswich on Friday with just one goal to his name this season, but his 18 shots are the most of any Nottingham Forest player. Ipswich have conceded 15 goals in seven matches, the most in the league, and are giving up plenty of big chances. Forest haven’t made the most of their opportunities either, which is why Delap remains a gamble rather than a safe buy. At 5.5m and under two per cent ownership, though, a goal at Portman Road could make a real difference. I’d view this strictly as a GW8 punt.

Evanilson

Price: 6.1m
Ownership: 4.6%
Position: Forward
Opponent: MUN (A), LEE (H), IPS (A)

Evanilson is starting to look a lot more useful than the average 6m forward. He’s got two goals and four assists from seven league starts, and has blanked only twice. Manchester United away might look awkward on paper, but Carrick’s side have struggled badly at the back and were beaten 4-1 by Como in the Champions League on Wednesday. Bournemouth will fancy creating chances, particularly if they can get runners around Evanilson in the box. Leeds at home and Ipswich away follow, so there’s more to this than one fixture. He did start Thursday’s Europa League win over Milan, though, making the quick turnaround the obvious concern.