The UF Team name the silver and base cards that have caught their eye for the opening gameweek
The wait is over. The Premier League is back on Friday evening, with football fans rejoicing over the return of the greatest league in world football.
While plenty of UF players have been snapping up the rare gold cards off the marketplace, there are plenty of non-gold cards that could prove to be fruitful in UltimateFan this weekend.
Six players make the cut for this week’s lists, with some potential big-hitters lurking in the lower ratings.
Here are the Non-Gold Gems for the first gameweek of UltimateFan.
If you’re looking for a UF Coach to add to your team for Gameweek 1, check out our this week’s edition of the Coach Catcher!
DEFENDERS
Lisandro Martinez – Manchester United (v Brighton – H)
Nicknamed ‘The Butcher’ thanks to his ruthless style of play, Lisandro Martinez could kick-start his United career with a top-draw display against Brighton.
The former Ajax man was in the 99th percentile for tackles among centre-backs across Europe’s top seven leagues last year, averaging 3.12 tackles a game.
That instantly launches him into the spotlight as he could guarantee his users points every week if he continues that run of form involving challenges.
The Argentinian defender could be in the mix for clean sheet points as well and if he starts well, Martinez could prove to be valuable going forward.
Tyrick Mitchell – Crystal Palace (v Arsenal – H)
Despite the clean sheet points looking a slight concern here, Tyrick Mitchell could be worth starting in your line-up this week.
The Palace full-back was a hidden gem last year as a base card, picking up over 50 points in tackles alone in the 2021/22 campaign.
Mitchell did chip in with the odd assist last term and he holds every chance of providing once against here.
MIDFIELDERS
Christian Norgaard – Brentford (v Leicester – A)
In terms of UltimateFan scoring, Christian Norgaard is an absolute gem in the game.
The Brentford recruit pushed into the top 20 scoring midfielders last season and picked up 60 points from just tackles alone in 21/22.
The Danish midfielder is extremely busy in the middle of the park and he has proven to be a consistent points scorer for his users.
Norgaard takes on a lively Leicester team in the opening fixture and if he continues his form of hitting a few shots on target and making some challenges, he could well claim a decent score this week.
Jefferson Lerma – Bournemouth (v Aston Villa – H)
While it is obvious that Jefferson Lerma is not a direct outlet for goals and assists, the defensive midfielder could prove vital in claiming a decent points haul in the middle of the park for Bournemouth.
The fan favourite has proven to be a rock in the CDM position for his side and he isn’t afraid to put his body on the line to challenge for the ball.
The base card is a cheap addition to your team if you’re looking for a player that could claim a handful of points for your team.
FORWARDS
Deniz Undav – Brighton (v Manchester United – A)
After joining Brighton in January, Deniz Undav could prove to be a deadly force up front for Brighton this term.
The German forward has a tough task on his hands in the opening gameweek but if he brings his goalscoring form from the Belgian First Division (43 goals in 63 games), he could prove to be tough to deal with.
He has apparently leapfrogged Neal Maupay into the starting striker role and if he gets off to a good start, he could well crash the Erik ten Hag welcoming party at Old Trafford.
Even if he doesn’t get off to a strong start here, Undav is one to watch out for in the 2021/22 season.
Hwang Hee-Chan – Wolves (v Leeds – A)
Following the news of Raul Jimenez’s injury, Hwang Hee-Chan is likely to take up that starting role for Wolves when they head to Elland Road this weekend.
Leeds is known for their leaky backline and if that problem persists in the new season, it could prove to be costly for them.
That’s why Hwang is worth siding with this week, as he will exploit that weakness and take his chance if given the opportunity this week.
