Fantasy England

The Fantasy Pink uses the international break to bring you the first Fantasy League England team of the 08/09 season. This will be updated until the end of the campaign, displaying which English players are performing best in the Fantasy League world. This is how the England team would line up against Kazakhstan and Belarus if Fabio Capello picked his team purely based on Fantasy League points.

Keeper: Scott Carson, WBA (6pts)
After years of spending seasons out on loan at the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton and Aston Villa, Scott Carson has finally got himself settled at the Hawthorns. The permanent move from Liverpool in the summer certainly seems to have helped his form too. Carson has already secured West Brom three clean sheets in their opening seven games as well as earning a recall to the international fold replacing the injured Paul Robinson.

Full-back: Ashley Cole, CHE (12pts)
Certain to start at left-back in the two upcoming qualifiers, Ashley Cole has begin to find some of the form that he was famous for at Arsenal. Luiz Felipe Scolari loves his full-backs to attack whenever possible and if Cole plays behind Steven Gerrard on England's left this week then expect him to advance down the line on a regular basis as Gerrard drifts inside.

Full-back: Wes Brown, MU (8pts)
Wes Brown spent last season filling in at right-back for the injured Gary Neville at Manchester United but is not guaranteed of his place at Old Trafford this season despite his impressive form last term. He still has 8 Fantasy League points to his name though and should start for England in against Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Centre-back: Jamie Carragher, LIV (13pts)
Jamie Carragher continues to impress for Liverpool and had he not retired from international football he would surely be the main candidate to step in for injured skipper John Terry for these two qualifiers.

Centre-back: John Terry, CHE (12pts)
As mentioned above, the England skipper will not start against Kazakhstan and is a doubt for the Belarus game on Wednesday but his consistent form for Chelsea means he is always towards the top of the highest scoring defensive players and as a result is a regular in the Fantasy England team.

Midfielder: Shaun Wright-Phillips, MC (13pts)
Shaun Wright-Phillips has shown fine form since his return to Eastlands after three years in the wilderness at Chelsea and as a result he is even being touted in some quarters as a possible starter in place of hat-trick hero Theo Walcott.

Midfielder: Ashley Young, AV (12pts)
Ashley Young has again been over-looked by England, perhaps due to his tendency to lose the ball easily on occasions. Capello likes to play the passing game which could be the reason for Young's emission. His recent form at club level has seen him pick up 12 Fantasy League points though there are no doubts over his inclusion in our squad.

Midfielder: Joe Cole, CHE (10pts)
Joe Cole is another injury victim that would make our team if fit, and certainly England's. Cole's two goals and two assists gives him 10 FL points thus far this season.

Midfielder: Frank Lampard, CHE (10pts)
Frank Lampard has been in great form for Chelsea this season and his Partnership for England with Gareth Barry against Croatia could keep Steven Gerrard out of the team this week.

Striker: Jermain Defoe, POR (22pts)
Jermain Defoe reminded Tottenham fans just what they are missing out on last weekend when notched up a goal and assist against his former club. The Pompey striker now has six goals in seven games and is pushing for a start under Capello on Saturday.

Striker: Gabriel Agbonlahor, AV (14pts)
Gabriel Agbonlahor has yet to make his England debut but his hat-trick for Villa on the opening day secured him 9 FL points and helped him to be one of the top scoring English strikers up to now.

Substitutes:
Keeper: Chris Kirkland, WIG (5pts)
Full-back: Paul Robinson, WBA (8pts)
Centre-back: Rio Ferdinand, MU (8pts)
Midfielder: Mark Noble, WH (9pts)
Striker: Kevin Davies, BOL (16pts)