Ultimate differential option Matheus Cunha should cash in during Wolves’ favourable run of fixtures

DREAM TEAM managers who played the game last season will remember a spell when Matheus Cunha (£4.1m) was a hugely effective differential option.

The Wolves forward’s viability peaked in early February when he bagged a hat-trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

While he’s yet to replicate a performance of that extreme nature this term, it’s high time his efforts were analysed and praised.

Cunha is statistically the third most in-form forward in the game at the time of writing having plundered 27 points from his last three appearances.

Most recently, he capped a fine all-round display against Brighton with a 93rd-minute equaliser for a 12-point return – his best haul of the campaign to date.

The 25-year-old has scored four goals this season and can count himself desperately unlucky not to have registered an assist as only three forwards – Mohamed Salah (£7.4m), Cody Gakpo (£4m), Marcus Rashford (£4m) – have created more big chances for their team-mates.

Additionally, Cunha is eighth in his position for tackles and first for bonus points – he ranks highly for successful dribbles, accurate crosses, fouls won and interceptions!

Gary O’Neil’s side have endured a tough start to the season having already faced Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City in the league.

Even accounting for their tricky fixtures, there’s no disguising the fact Wolves’ meagre tally of two points is bitterly disappointing.

However, the Molineux faithful will be hopeful of an upturn in results as the schedule now switches in their favour.

Wolves are due to face Crystal Palace, Southampton, Fulham, Bournemouth, Everton, West Ham, Ipswich and Leicester in a relatively friendly run that will take them to Christmas.

Cunha’s ability to accumulate Dream Team points through various avenues combined with a string of favourable match-ups could yield plentiful returns.

The downside to this strategy is the comparatively low number of games available to the Brazil international.

Cunha’s fixtures may be favourable but without European or Carabao Cup commitments, he will play a maximum of eight times from the start of Gameweek 10 until Christmas.

Whereas Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Tottenham will be in action at least 11 times in the same time frame – Chelsea are due to play 12 games as it stands.

That being said, Cunha outperformed several high-profile players with busier schedules during his most fruitful spell last season and is capable of the same again in the coming weeks if everything clicks.

In many ways, he’s the ultimate differential option right now as he currently features in just 0.7% of teams.

He has the highest points total (67) of all players with an ownership below 1%.

Plus, his average of 6.7 points-per-game is superior to that of Kai Havertz (£5m), Ollie Watkins (£5.7m), Alexander Isak (£4.7m) and several other popular strikers.

Selecting Cunha comes with risk but he should be high up the shortlist for gaffers who want to go against the grain.