Managers have had over a week to relax and enjoy life, but now it’s time for all that happiness and stress-free joy to end as Fantasy Football returns this weekend.
The international break has offered some respite to Fantasy Premier League managers, unless they were bold enough to wildcard of course, but the Premier League returns and it’s time to put game faces back on.
When managers open up the FPL app this week as they prepare to select their team for this weekend’s fixtures, there will be many fearful of the cursed yellow and red exclamation marks. The international break inevitably means injuries, some of which can wreak havoc for FPL managers.
However, to make sure you are well-informed ahead of this weekend’s action, here are all those players who have picked up injuries on international duty.
Fresh from a hat-trick against Newcastle United that has seen 313,857 managers bring the Irishman into their team, Evan Ferguson may not be available for Brighton’s trip to Manchester United.
The £6.0m centre-forward was sent home from the Ireland international camp having aggravated a long-standing knee injury, putting his place at the weekend in jeopardy. It’s a shame for those who have already transferred the 18-year-old in, but there is hope the striker could play some part for the Seagulls on Saturday.
Having been substituted at half-time against Scotland during the international break, the 1.8% of FPL managers who own Guehi will be sweating over his fitness.
Gareth Southgate stated after the match he had “felt something” at half-time, adding he hoped it wasn’t “too serious”. With an away trip to Aston Villa this weekend, Roy Hodgson will be hopeful of that too.
The young Everton centre-back had to pull out of joining up with the England Under-21s over the international period after sustaining a minor groin injury.
Only owned by 0.4% of players, Branthwaite’s potential absence shouldn’t be too impactful, although he is expected to be fit for the visit of Arsenal.
The summer signing is yet to play for Everton in the Premier League and may have to wait a little longer after pulling out of Portugal’s Under-20 squad over the international break.
While expected to be fit for the Arsenal game following his groin problem, Chermiti may not be rushed back by Sean Dyche.
12.4% of managers will be eagerly awaiting Jurgen Klopp’s pre-match press conference in which he will offer an update on the extent of Alexander-Arnold’s injury. The defender was forced off with a hamstring problem against Aston Villa and had to withdraw from the England squad as a result.
With Ibrahima Konate likely out and Virgil van Dijk suspended, Alexander-Arnold’s absence could be disastrous for Liverpool’s backline against Wolves.
Nunez has been in great form for Liverpool, picking up 19 points in his last two matches. The forward is now owned by 11.4% of all FPL managers, but the striker was substituted at half-time during Uruguay’s clash with Ecuador on Tuesday.
Marcelo Bielsa suggested Nunez had some muscle problems but there was no confirmation as to the extent of a potential injury. Given the quick turnaround Liverpool face with the early Saturday kick-off, there is a decent chance the striker will be rested.
The midfielder missed both of Croatia’s international matches with a back injury and will be given a late fitness test to see whether he can play against West Ham.
Pep Guardiola won’t want to rush Kovacic back as the extent of Kevin De Bruyne’s injury means he is expected to be a regular starter for the remainder of 2023.
Amrabat may have to wait for his Manchester United debut after the Moroccan withdrew from international duty due to a ‘knock’.
The deadline day signing reportedly has a back issue, one that could see him miss a few games for his new club. The midfielder is unlikely to be a popular pick in FPL anyway and is currently owned by a whopping 0.0% of managers.
At just £4.4m, Anderson finds himself in 3.6% of squads as a good budget enabler in midfield. The Newcastle man has picked up a point in every gameweek so far and is a firm favourite of Eddie Howe’s from the bench.
However, there is some doubt over his fitness for the visit of Brentford after he withdrew from the Scotland squad to face Cyprus and England.
The new Nottingham Forest man scored a wonderful goal against Chelsea to return a seven-point haul in gameweek four, perhaps serving as a neat differential option in the future.
However, Elanga had to withdraw from the Sweden squad with a ‘minor injury’, with Forest fans and 0.8% of FPL managers hoping it’s not too serious.
Ahmedhodzic is not a particularly popular FPL pick with just 0.3% of managers owning the Sheffield United defender who is yet to return more than a single point in any game this season.
For those few who do own him, now may be time to get rid as the £4.5m man had to withdraw from the Bosnia & Herzegovina squad with a hamstring issue.
A far more popular pick than his Sheffield United teammate Ahmedhodzic, 11.1% of FPL managers will be sweating on Baldock’s fitness for the Tottenham clash.
As a £4.0m enabler, he probably resides mostly on the bench for those managers who own him, but it’s still important to find budget options who play regularly. Baldock had to withdraw from the Greece squad with a calf problem and could be missing for the Blades.
Poor Sheffield United, eh?
Another international break concern is forward William Osula – yet another budget enabler at £4.5m – who has managed four points in FPL so far having started three games for the Blades.
Another ‘minor’ issue kept Osula out of one of Denmark’s Under-21 games over the international break and the attacker is doubtful to feature against Spurs.
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