Premier League Fantasy Picks: Keep Kane involved as World Cup break looms

With just over a week to go until the World Cup kicks off, this weekend represents the last chance for fantasy football bosses to rack up some points ahead of the holiday season.

The tournament's unprecedented schedule means uncertainty may reign when players return from Qatar, making a trusted fantasy favorite attractive ahead of Matchday 16 of the Premier League season.

With Harry Kane looking to maintain his fine form before flying out to lead the line for England, can you really afford to ignore Tottenham's talisman?

For those looking for under-the-radar players, could the improved form of two Midlands teams provide the answer?

Stats Perform is here to help, digging into Opta numbers to identify four players to provide your fantasy squad with the perfect boost ahead of the World Cup.

Aaron Ramsdale (Wolves v Arsenal)

Arsenal travel to Wolves to stay top of the Premier League for Christmas, and the joint best defense in the division (11 goals conceded, alongside Newcastle United) should rule out a Wolves side with just eight goals left his assets this season.

Ramsdale - who has been included in England's World Cup squad - has played a key role for Mikel Arteta's side this campaign, keeping six clean sheets in the Premier League.

No goalkeeper has recorded more high profile shutouts (six) than Ramsdale this season (with Nick Pope and Ederson), and the Gunners keeper has saved five of those shutouts on the road.

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Lucas Digne (Brighton and Hove Albion v Aston Villa)

Unai Emery made a dream return to the Premier League last week, leading Aston Villa to a 3-1 win at home to Manchester United as Digne entered the scoresheet with a skillfully delivered free kick.

Since the left-back made his Premier League debut in August 2018, only four players have bettered his tally of three direct free-kick goals in the competition - James Ward-Prowse (12), James Maddison (eight ), Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier (all four).

During that same period, Liverpool duo Alexander-Arnold (54) and Andrew Robertson (48) are the only two defenders to improve on their return to 27 Premier League goals.

Defenders capable of contributing in attack are like gold dust in fantasy football, and with Digne unlikely to cost the earth, the Villa man could represent a prudent budget choice.

Harvey Barnes (West Ham v Leicester City)

Leicester City continued their momentum by beating Everton 2-0 last week, with winger Barnes scoring his fifth league goal of the season to secure the points late in the game.

Barnes has now hit the net three times in his last four league appearances and is averaging a goal every 200 minutes this season - his best rate in a single season in the competition.

This calendar year, meanwhile, only Kane (33), Maddison (22), Ivan Toney (21) and Bukayo Saka (19) have bettered Barnes' tally of 17 Premier League goals (nine goals, eight passes) among English players, and he can put West Ham in a bad position at the sword.

Harry Kane (Tottenham v Leeds United)

Finally, Tottenham striker Kane is among the favorites to win the Golden Boot at the World Cup, and he should be expected to continue his solid form against Leeds United.< /p>

Kane has scored in each of his last six Premier League home appearances - the longest run of his career, and only Erling Haaland (18) has bettered his tally of 11 top-flight goals this season.< /p >

The England captain has averaged a goal for every 113 minutes of league action this season, a rate he only improved in the 2016-17 (87 minutes/goal) and 2017 seasons -18 (103), and Leeds look unlikely to shut him down after conceding 22 goals in 13 Premier League games.