What is the current situation with Lucas Digne?
Lucas Digne is currently owned by 8.9% of FPL managers. Many of those have held him through a series of matches without return and through a Covid diagnosis because he played in Blank Gameweek 30. However, Digne was substituted within 10 minutes in Gameweek 29. We look at what we know so far and whether Matt Cash is a better option.
In the aftermath of their Gameweek 29 defeat to West Ham, manager Steven Gerrard stated:
He [Digne] says it is a small muscle injury. We will analyse it with an MRI scan. I am positive in what Lucas has said to me, but he is obviously a major doubt for the Arsenal game.
Steven Gerrard on Lucas Digne
Later on Sunday evening, Digne himself posted a video to his Instagram stories. The video showed his leg elevated and in a compression sleeve.
With doubt about Digne’s availability to play against Arsenal in Gameweek 30 what should FPL managers do with the French international?
What happened?
Digne was forced off with a hamstring injury after an attacking sprint. The left-back immeidately signalled to Villa’s bench to make a change.
Digne was seen to by Villa’s medical staff as he lay on the pitch clutching his left hamstring.
Ashley Young replaced Digne in a like-for-like change.
Press Conferences
The Gameweek 30 deadline is on Friday evening. Aston Villa’s match against Arsenal is at 12:30 on the Saturday. Gerrard will have another press conference ahead of the deadline where he will hopefully provide a update on Digne’s availability.
Should managers move early on swapping Digne for another Villa defender?
The left-back had been a bit of a disappointment to FPL managers in recent weeks. He had returned just one attacking return in the Premier League since his arrival at Villa Park back in Gameweek 22.
In the same period right back Matt Cash has returned three double digit hauls, including two goals and two assists.
When you compare the form and the FPL points returns of the two wing-backs since the Digne’s move to Villa, Cash is a better option. He has played more minutes, returned more attacking returns and has been passing the eye test.
Managers should however wait for Gerrard’s final update, even though it does not look promising for Gameweek 30. If Digne is available for Gameweek 30 then it is likely not worth a sideways move with so few fixtures. However, if the left back is unavailable then swapping to Cash looks sensible for both Gameweek 30 and beyond.
Community chatter
Andrew Gower highlights how Cash is top for FPL points per match over the last six Gameweeks in his recent tweet.
We have taken a look in to the best defenders for Gameweek 30. See where the Villa defenders rate in comparison to the others.
