Following confirmation from the FA that Sergio Agüero will serve a 3-match suspension with immediate effect, fantasy football managers have been presented with a real conundrum – how should they go about replacing a player who is so highly owned and who takes up the biggest proportion of the available budget, under the vast majority of game formats?

Many will opt for a like for like replacement, with players such as Harry Kane and Zlatan Ibrahimović very much in their line of thinking. However, under these type of circumstances, utilising the Agüero funds to stack up on premium midfielders is also another viable option.

Oulala have analysed the contenders for August’s Premier League Player of the Month Award and one player stands out – Eden Hazard, who was dubbed ‘The Forbidden Fruit’ by some Chelsea fans.

Curtis Davies, Antonio Valencia and a revitalised Raheem Sterling have all started the season in tremendous fashion and deserve their nominations but Hazard’s stats speak for themselves, signalling that he is on the way back to discovering the type of form that enabled him to clinch the 2014/15 PFA Player of the Year Award.

A trip to Swansea in Gameweek 4 shouldn’t pose too many problems for the Blues, making Hazard a great bet to continue his early season form. The Belgium winger is averaging 4.7 shots per game, after dipping to an alarming 1.2 per game last season, while his dribbling statistics suggest that he is really enjoying his football again.

Hazard’s performance against Hungary at Euro 2016 was a clear indication that he was on his way back – which was welcome news for fantasy football managers, who previously had him down as a ‘must-have’ pick. If Hazard can maintain his current form – he will soon become an irresistible selection again!

Does Eden Hazard deserve to be named Premier League Player of the Month for August?

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