ANTHONY ELANGA (£3.4m) is overdue his flowers.
The 22-year-old has been instrumental in Nottingham Forest’s unexpected push for Champions League qualification this season.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been solid defensively but it would be foolish to overlook the attacking unit’s contribution.
Chris Wood’s (£3.8m) clinical finishing has been a decisive factor but the big New Zealander’s support cast of Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi (£3.8m) and Morgan Gibbs-White (£4.2m) also deserve plenty of credit.
The Sweden international has been particularly effective lately, as best evidenced by his Dream Team returns.
Elanga has collected 53 points from his last seven appearances at an average of 7.6.
His average of ten points-per-game over his last three outings is only bettered by two midfielders at present: Bruno Fernandes (£6.7m) and Ismaila Sarr (£3.7m).
This fruitful run peaked just prior to the international break when he took Ipswich for 17 points via a brace for his best haul of the season.
Elanga has scored two goals and provided four assists in his last seven games and this upturn in tangible output may have come at a good time from a Dream Team perspective.
Forest are one of just seven teams set to fulfil two fixtures in Gameweek 29.
Most read in Football
This Saturday, they’re due to face Brighton in the FA Cup quarter-finals before hosting Manchester United in the Premier League the following Tuesday.
The Seagulls are in fine form but Dream Team managers will remember they lost 7-0 to Forest last month.
Elanga registered three assists that day on his way to a 15-point return.
A repeat of that mauling is unlikely but Forest will head to the south coast fully confident in their ability to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
Elanga didn’t play against Exeter in the fourth round of the competition but he was deployed against the Tractor Boys in the fifth round, when he banked ten points via an assist and three bonus points.
At this stage of the campaign, Nuno has a realistic chance of lifting the famous trophy and so the first-team regulars should get plenty of minutes across both fixtures in Gameweek 29, Elanga included.
It’s worth noting that Wood is currently considered an injury doubt having limped off while on international duty but gaffers should get an update on the striker’s availability closer to the deadline.
Dream Team bosses tempted to back Elanga (1.9% ownership) at this juncture should be aware that he’s probably a short-term option.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
In Gameweeks 30 and 31, the focus will be on Arsenal, Man United, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Chelsea due to the additional midweek fixtures created by the European quarter-finals.
But as far as one-week punts go, Elanga is very much in the conversation.
Score Predictor
Play Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!
- FREE to play
- £250 weekly prize
- Predict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracy
- Most points wins weekly cash prize
- PLAY NOW
