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When it was announced that Cristiano Ronaldo would be returning to Manchester United at the end of August, FPL managers instantly flocked to try and work how out how to force him into their teams.

At £12.5m, he was always going to be an expensive asset to bring in to any FPL team but, when a trojan of world football becomes available, it’s difficult not to seriously flirt with the chance to make the most of his presence. As a result of almost half of fantasy football managers swooning over the Portuguese, his price at one point rose to a bulging £12.7m.

And, initially, he didn't disappoint those who put their faith in his ability to perform at the highest level, even at the ripe old age of 36.

Two goals on his Red Devils debut against Newcastle set the tone for an encouraging start to the campaign, and he then followed that up with a goal in United’s 2-1 away win at West Ham.

But while many Ronaldo owners will have him rubber-stamped as a mainstay in their teams for the rest of the campaign, recent signs suggest now is time to look for an alternative to CR7.

There are, of course, several other top-performing sharpshooters in the Premier League this season who cost significantly less than Ronaldo but have the potential to bring in just as many FPL points to managers looking for something a bit different.

After all, with a 34.7% ownership, owning the superstar isn’t going to give you much of an advantage over your fellow mini-league rivals, so perhaps it might be worth considering a love affair with a less owned, less attractive striker to deliver the goods?

Here’s a look at three Ronaldo alternatives to consider over the coming gameweeks as Man United continue a tough stretch of fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester City, and other potent strikers prepare for an attractive run of fixtures…

Jamie Vardy - £10.8m

With seven goals and an assist in nine Premier League appearances this season, Vardy needs to be in your Fantasy line-up.

The ageless wonder is benefitting from minimal action in the Europa League - playing in just 10 minutes of the competition this season - which has allowed him to shine in domestic action.

Only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has scored more goals in the league than Vardy this season and Brendan Rodgers' usage of the 34-year-old is ensuring he remains fresh to lead Leicester's pursuit of another top six finish.

Michail Antonio - £7.9m

The Jamaica international has already wrapped up West Ham’s record as the club’s highest scorer in Premier League history this season.

The forward has scored six goals and provided three assists in the top-flight this term, notching the winner in the Hammers' 1-0 win against Tottenham at the weekend.

At just £8.1m, he’s a forward who isn’t just affordable but also incredibly reliable as a points scorer. As the Hammers’ only first-team striker – at least until January – he’s almost guaranteed to play every league game before the New Year.

Given the form of David Moyes’ side so far this term, you’d expect them to be as rampant as they have been in most of those games, with Antonio spearheading their attack.

Danny Ings - £7.8m

Ings’ arrival at Aston Villa caught everyone by surprise but he’s hit the ground running at Villa Park with three goals and two assists in his nine league appearances in claret and blue.

Cheaper than Michail Antonio (£7.9m), he’s another cost-effective option to consider if you’re looking for an FPL points scorer who is capable of casually slipping in the goals on a consistent basis.

Ings is no stranger to FPL managers, having been a superb alternative to expensive FPL strikers in recent seasons with Southampton, so this isn’t a gamble that some may initially think it is.

Villa face West Ham (H), Southampton (A), Brighton (H) and Crystal Palace (A) before the festive period, which provides Ings with plenty of opportunities to stick the ball in the onion bag several times and rewarding FPL managers for their trust in him.