International Minutes Assessed – Part One

With plenty of Premier League players featuring all over the globe during the international break, we’ve broken down the activity of all the key assets over the past 10 days. With domestic duties recommencing on Saturday, players who have featured on the other side of the world, particularly on either Tuesday night or the early hours of Wednesday morning, could well arrive back on our shores late and potentially fatigued, which is something worth taking into consideration as we plan for Gameweek 32.

ARSENAL

Both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez played all 180 minutes for their respective countries, but bearing in mind that Arsenal’s title challenge is hanging by a thread, the pair are expected to start against Watford on Saturday. Should the Gunners be in a good position towards the end of the match, though, we could see both players substituted in the final stages. Danny Welbeck should be fresh after not featuring for England on Tuesday night.

David Ospina – Colombia (24/03 (a) v Bolivia in La Paz and 29/03 (h) v Ecuador in Barranquilla) – Played all 180 minutes.
Calum Chambers – England U21 (26/03 (a) v Switzerland in Thun) – 90 minutes.
Hector Bellerin – Spain U21 (24/03 (h) v Croatia in Burgos and 28/03 (h) v Norway in Cartagena) – Played all 180 minutes.
Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud – France (25/03 (a) v Netherlands in Amsterdam and 29/03 (h) v Russia in Paris) – Koscielny played the full match against Netherlands, but was an unused substitute in the second. Giroud started against the Dutch, getting on the scoresheet in a 3-2 win, playing 73 minutes. He only played 11 minutes as a substitute against Russia.
Mohamed Elneny – Egypt (25/03 (a) v Nigeria in Kaduna and 29/03 (h) v Nigeria in Borg El Arab) – 180 minutes.
Joel Campbell – Costa Rica (26/03 (a) v Jamaica in Kingston and 30/03 (h) v Jamaica in San Jose) – Played 89 minutes in the first match, and the full 90 minutes in the second.
Alex Iwobi – Nigeria (25/03 (h) v Egypt in Kaduna and 29/03 (a) v Egypt in Borg El Arab) – Played eight minutes off the bench in the first match, and 17 minutes as a substitute in the second.
Alexis Sanchez – Chile (24/03 (h) v Argentina in Santiago and 30/03 (a) v Venezuela in Barinas) – Played all 180 minutes, and grabbed two assists in the 4-1 win against Venezuela.
Mesut Ozil – Germany (26/03 (h) v England in Berlin and 29/03 (h) v Italy in Munich) – Played the full 90 minutes against England, picking up an assist in the 3-2 defeat. Also played the full match against Italy, scoring from the penalty spot in a 4-1 win.
Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck – England (26/03 (a) v Germany in Berlin and 29/03 (h) v Netherlands in London) – Walcott was limited to just 33 minutes as a substitute against Netherlands. Welbeck only played against Germany, logging 71 minutes in the 3-2 victory.

ASTON VILLA

Only Jordan Ayew played 180 minutes over the international break from the Villa squad, but with Ghana’s second match played on Sunday, he and the rest of Villa’s international contingent will surely be available to take on Chelsea on Saturday.

Brad Guzan – USA (26/03 (a) v Guatemala in Ciadad de Guatemala and 29/03 (h) v Guatemala in Columbus) – Only played the full 90 minutes in the second match.
Alan Hutton – Scotland (24/03 (a) v Czech Republic in Prague and 29/03 (h) v Denmark in Glasgow) – Played only the full 90 minutes against Czech Republic.
Ciaran Clark – Republic of Ireland (25/03 (h) v Switzerland in Dublin and 29/03 (h) v Slovakia in Dublin) – Only featured against Switzerland, scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win, completing the full 90 minutes.
Jores Okore – Denmark (24/03 (h) v Iceland in Herning and 29/03 (a) v Scotland in Glasgow) – Was an unused substitute in both matches.
Idrissa Gueye – Senegal (26/03 (h) v Niger in Dakar and 29/03 (a) v Niger in Niamey) – Played 90 minutes in the first match.
Jordan Ayew – Ghana (24/03 (h) v Mozambique in Accra and 27/03 (a) v Mozambique in Maputo) – Played all 180 minutes, and scored in the 3-1 win in the first match.
Rudy Gestede – Benin (23/03 (a) v South Sudan in Juba and 27/03 (h) v South Sudan in Cotonou) – Played 78 minutes in the first match.

BOURNEMOUTH

Matt Ritchie and Max Gradel will arrive back in confident mood having scored for their countries, while there look to be no obvious concerns for Eddie Howe ahead of the home clash against Man City.

Artur Boruc – Poland (23/03 (h) v Serbia in Poznan and 26/03 (h) v Finland in Wroclaw) – Only played the first-half against Finland before being substituted.
Adam Federici – Australia (24/03 (h) v Tajikistan in Adelaide and 29/03 (h) v Jordan in Sydney) – Was an unused substitute in both matches.
Shaun MacDonald – Wales (24/03 (h) v Northern Ireland in Cardiff and 28/03 (a) v Ukraine in Kiev) – Was an unused substitute in the first match, before playing 29 minutes off the bench in Kiev.
Eunan O’Kane – Republic of Ireland (25/03 (h) v Switzerland in Dublin and 29/03 (h) v Slovakia in Dublin) – Played 29 minutes as a substitute against Switzerland, and 67 minutes against Slovakia.
Juan Iturbe – Paraguay (24/03 (a) v Ecuador in Quito and 30/03 (h) v Brazil in Asuncion) – Only played 20 minutes as a substitute against Brazil.
Matt Ritchie – Scotland (24/03 (a) v Czech Republic in Prague and 29/03 (h) v Denmark in Glasgow) – Played 82 minutes against Denmark, scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win.
Max Gradel – Ivory Coast (25/03 (h) v Sudan in Abidjan and 29/03 (a) v Sudan in Omdurman) – Played 90 minutes in the first match, and started in the second, scoring in a 1-1 draw.

CHELSEA

Willian had a fairly heavy workload for Brazil over the past week, and with Chelsea playing Aston Villa in the early kick-off on Saturday, could be one at risk of rotation. John Obi Mikel also racked up 180 minutes for Nigeria, so Nemanja Matic could perhaps come into contention for a start in central midfield.

Thibaut Courtois – Belgium (29/03 (a) v Portugal in Leiria – Played the full match.
Asmir Begovic – Bosnia-Herzegovina (25/03 (a) v Luxembourg in Letzebuerg and 29/03 (a) v Switzerland in Zurich) – Played 45 minutes against Luxembourg, and 62 minutes against Switzerland.
Baba Rahman – Ghana (24/03 (h) v Mozambique in Accra and 27/03 (a) v Mozambique in Maputo) – Played all 180 minutes.
Gary Cahill – England (26/03 (a) v Germany in Berlin and 29/03 (h) v Netherlands in London) – Only featured against Germany, playing the full 90 minutes.
Branislav Ivanovic and Nemanja Matic – Serbia (23/03 (a) v Poland in Poznan and 29/03 (a) v Estonia in Tallinn) – Ivanovic played all 180 minutes, while Matic played 85 minutes against Poland and 64 minutes against Estonia.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro – Spain (24/03 (a) v Italy in Udine and 27/03 (a) v Romania in Cluj) – Azpilicueta only played the full 90 minutes against Italy. Fabregas also played the full match against Italy, but also came off the bench to play 30 minutes against Romania. Pedro only played 67 minutes against Romania.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – England U21 (26/03 (a) v Switzerland in Thun) – Played 70 minutes before being substituted.
John Obi Mikel – Nigeria (25/03 (h) v Egypt in Kaduna and 29/03 (a) v Egypt in Borg El Arab) – 180 minutes.
Oscar and Willian – Brazil (26/03 (h) v Uruguay in Recife and 30/03 (a) v Paraguay in Asuncion) – Oscar was an unused substitute in both matches. Willian played 85 minutes against Uruguay, where he registered an assist in the 2-2 draw, while he played the full 90 minutes against Paraguay, where he picked up another assist.

CRYSTAL PALACE

Alan Pardew’s main injury concern ahead of the trip to West Ham will surround Mile Jedinak, who picked up a hamstring injury on international duty, and also faces a long flight back from Australia. Pape Souare also had a heavy workload, playing both matches for Senegal, and perhaps will need to be monitored.

Wayne Hennessey and Joe Ledley – Wales (24/03 (h) v Northern Ireland in Cardiff and 28/03 (a) v Ukraine in Kiev) – Hennessey played all 180 minutes, while Ledley started against Northern Ireland, playing 45 minutes, before coming off the bench In Kiev for the final 11 minutes.
Adrian Mariappa – Jamaica (26/03 (h) v Costa Rica in Kingston and 30/03 (a) v Costa Rica in San Jose) – 180 minutes.
Pape Souare – Senegal (26/03 (h) v Niger in Dakar and 29/03 (a) v Niger in Niamey) – 180 minutes, scored in the second match.
Mile Jedinak – Australia (24/03 (h) v Tajikistan in Adelaide and 29/03 (h) v Jordan in Sydney) – Scored a penalty in the 7-0 win against Tajikistan, but had to be substituted at half-time after picking up a hamstring problem. Was subsequently ruled out of the match against Jordan.
Lee Chung-yong – South Korea (24/03 (h) v Lebanon in Ansan and 27/03 (a) v Thailand in Bangkok) – Played the full match against Lebanon, but was an unused substitute against Thailand.
Yohan Cabaye – France (25/03 (a) v Netherlands in Amsterdam and 29/03 (h) v Russia in Paris) – An unused substitute in both matches.
Yannick Bolasie – DR Congo (26/03 (h) v Angola in Kinshasa and 29/03 (a) v Angola in Luanda) – Played 65 minutes in the first match.
Emmanuel Adebayor – Togo (29/03 (h) v Tunisia in Kinshasa) – ended his self-imposed international exile but couldn’t find the net in a goalless draw.

EVERTON

None of the Everton players had particularly heavy workloads over the international break, and with the Toffees facing Man United on Sunday, that extra day of preparation could allow Roberto Martinez to play his strongest side at Old Trafford.

Tim Howard – USA (26/03 (a) v Guatemala in Ciadad de Guatemala and 29/03 (h) v Guatemala in Columbus) – Only played the full 90 minutes in the first match.
Ramiro Funes Mori – Argentina (24/03 (a) v Chile in Santiago and 30/03 (h) v Bolivia in Cordoba) – Played the full match against Chile, but didn’t feature against Bolivia.
Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy – Republic of Ireland (25/03 (h) v Switzerland in Dublin and 29/03 (h) v Slovakia in Dublin) – Coleman played the full match against Switzerland, but was an unused substitute against Slovakia. McCarthy played 29 minutes as a substitute against Switzerland and the full match against Slovakia.
John Stones, Phil Jagielka and Ross Barkley – England (26/03 (a) v Germany in Berlin and 29/03 (h) v Netherlands in London) – Stones only played the full 90 minutes against Netherlands, while Jagielka only logged 20 minutes as a substitute on Tuesday night. Barkley played 19 minutes as a substitute in Berlin, and played the full match against Netherlands.
Muhamed Besic – Bosnia-Herzegovina (25/03 (a) v Luxembourg in Letzebuerg and 29/03 (a) v Switzerland in Zurich) – Played 67 minutes in the first match, and the full 90 minutes in the second.
Gerard Deulofeu – Spain U21 (24/03 (h) v Croatia in Burgos and 28/03 (h) v Norway in Cartagena) – Played the full 90 minutes against Croatia, and 87 minutes against Norway, where he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.
Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku – Belgium (29/03 (a) v Portugal in Leiria – Mirallas was an unused substitute. Lukaku played the full 90 minutes, and scored in the 2-1 defeat.
Oumar Niasse – Senegal (26/03 (h) v Niger in Dakar and 29/03 (a) v Niger in Niamey) – Came off the bench in the first match, playing 27 minutes, and scoring in the 2-0 win.

LEICESTER

Claudio Ranieri will be relieved Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy came through unscathed, while N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater will both arrive back having impressed in their national colours for the first time. Kasper Schmeichel will have to be monitored though after picking up a hamstring problem during the match against Iceland, although he was fit enough to start against Scotland. Wes Morgan faces a long flight, but with the Foxes playing on Sunday, there should be no issue of his availability for the match against Southampton.

Kasper Schmeichel – Denmark (24/03 (h) v Iceland in Herning and 29/03 (a) v Scotland in Glasgow) – Played the full 90 minutes against Iceland but picked up a slight hamstring problem. Only played the first-half of the subsequent match against Scotland.
Christian Fuchs – Austria (26/03 (h) v Albania in Vienna and 29/03 (h) v Turkey in Vienna) – Played 45 minutes in the first match, and the full 90 minutes against Turkey.
Wes Morgan – Jamaica (26/03 (h) v Costa Rica in Kingston and 30/03 (a) v Costa Rica in San Jose) – 180 minutes.
Jeffrey Schlupp and Daniel Amartey – Ghana (24/03 (h) v Mozambique in Accra and 27/03 (a) v Mozambique in Maputo) – Schlupp played 45 minutes as a substitute in the first match, and the full 90 minutes in the second match on Sunday. Amartey only featured for 15 minutes off the bench in the first match.
N’Golo Kante – France (25/03 (a) v Netherlands in Amsterdam and 29/03 (h) v Russia in Paris) – Made his France debut coming on at half-time against Netherlands, while he played the full match against Russia, scoring the first goal in a 4-2 victory.
Danny Drinkwater and Jamie Vardy – England (26/03 (a) v Germany in Berlin and 29/03 (h) v Netherlands in London) – Drinkwater made his international debut against Netherlands, playing 84 minutes. Vardy played 19 minutes against Germany, scoring the 3-2 win, while he also netted against Netherlands, playing the full 90 minutes.
Riyad Mahrez – Algeria (25/03 (h) v Ethiopia in Blida and 29/03 (a) v Ethiopia in Addis Abeba) – Played 78 minutes in the first match, producing two assists, and 90 minutes in the second.
Demarai Gray England U21 (26/03 (a) v Switzerland in Thun) – 90 minutes.
Shinji Okazaki – Japan (24/03 (h) v Afghanistan in Saitama and 29/03 (h) v Syria in Saitama) – Played 72 minutes in the first match, and got on the scoresheet in the 5-0 win. Logged 77 minutes against Syria on Tuesday.

LIVERPOOL

Jurgen Klopp will be happy that none of his players had particularly hectic international breaks, though Philippe Coutinho faces a 13-hour flight back from Paraguay and will be monitored. The fact Martin Skrtel got 172 minutes under his belt was probably good news for the German boss, with the Slovakian needing to build up his match sharpness after a period on the sidelines and a poor first outing back against Southampton.

Simon Mignolet – Belgium (29/03 (a) v Portugal in Leiria – Was an unused substitute.
Dejan Lovren – Croatia (23/03 (h) v Israel in Osijek and 26/03 (a) v Hungary in Budapest) – Played all 90 minutes against Israel, but was an unused substitute against Hungary.
Martin Skrtel – Slovakia (25/03 (h) v Latvia in Trnava and 29/03 (a) v Republic of Ireland in Dublin) – Played 82 minutes against Latvia and the full match in Dublin on Tuesday night.
Mamadou Sakho – France (25/03 (a) v Netherlands in Amsterdam and 29/03 (h) v Russia in Paris) – Didn’t feature in the first match, but played the full 90 minutes against Russia.
Nathaniel Clyne, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge – England (26/03 (a) v Germany in Berlin and 29/03 (h) v Netherlands in London) – Clyne played the full match against Germany, providing an assist in the 3-2 win, before being handed just 33 minutes as a substitute in the second match. Henderson played the full 90 minutes against Germany, registering an assist, but didn’t feature against Netherlands. Milner only played the 81 minutes against Netherlands, while Lallana started both matches, logging 71 minutes against Germany and 70 minutes against Netherlands. Sturridge only played 57 minutes at Wembley on Tuesday night.
Joe Allen – Wales (24/03 (h) v Northern Ireland in Cardiff and 28/03 (a) v Ukraine in Kiev) – Played 19 minutes as a substitute in the first match, and the full 90 minutes in Kiev on Monday night.
Emre Can – Germany (26/03 (h) v England in Berlin and 29/03 (h) v Italy in Munich) – Played the full 90 minutes against England, and 21 minutes as a substitute against Italy.
Philippe Coutinho – Brazil (26/03 (h) v Uruguay in Recife and 30/03 (a) v Paraguay in Asuncion) – Limited to just 23 minutes as a substitute against Uruguay.
Jordon Ibe – England U21 (26/03 (a) v Switzerland in Thun) – Came on as a substitute after 27 minutes, but was sent off after picking up his second yellow card in stoppage time.

MAN CITY

Manuel Pellegrini would have been pleased to see Sergio Aguero only playing 12 minutes as a substitute for Argentina on Tuesday night. The striker should be slightly fresher for the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday then, while key players such as David Silva and Nicolas Otamendi should also be pretty fresh after playing under 100 minutes each.

Aleksandar Kolarov – Serbia (23/03 (a) v Poland in Poznan and 29/03 (a) v Estonia in Tallinn) – Played all 180 minutes, and scored the winning goal in the 1-0 win against Estonia.
Nicolas Otamendi, Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis and Sergio Aguero – Argentina (24/03 (a) v Chile in Santiago and 30/03 (h) v Bolivia in Cordoba) – Otamendi only played the full match against Chile, as he was suspended for the match against Bolivia, while Demichelis only played the full 90 minutes against Bolivia. Zabaleta was an unused substitute in both matches, while Sergio Aguero started against Chile, playing 67 minutes, before coming on as a late substitute against Bolivia, logging just 12 minutes off the bench.
Bacary Sagna – France (25/03 (a) v Netherlands in Amsterdam and 29/03 (h) v Russia in Paris) – Didn’t feature in the first match, but played the full 90 minutes against Russia.
Fernandinho – Brazil (26/03 (h) v Uruguay in Recife and 30/03 (a) v Paraguay in Asuncion) – Started both matches, playing 67 minutes in the first and 45 minutes in the second.
David Silva – Spain (24/03 (a) v Italy in Udine and 27/03 (a) v Romania in Cluj) – Played 19 minutes as a substitute against Italy and 79 minutes as a starter against Romania.
Kelechi Iheanacho – Nigeria (25/03 (h) v Egypt in Kaduna and 29/03 (a) v Egypt in Borg El Arab) – Only played 62 minutes in the first match.
Wilfried Bony – Ivory Coast (25/03 (h) v Sudan in Abidjan and 29/03 (a) v Sudan in Omdurman) – Played 90 minutes in the first match.

MAN UNITED

Defenders Matteo Darmian, Antonio Valencia and Marcos Rojo both played all 180 minutes for their countries, but with United facing Everton on Sunday, they should have enough recovery time to be available to start against the Toffees. The injury to Bastian Schweinsteiger does limit the options in midfield though, particularly should Ander Herrera remain out with a groin injury.

David De Gea and Juan Mata – Spain (24/03 (a) v Italy in Udine and 27/03 (a) v Romania in Cluj) – De Gea played the full match against Italy, but didn’t feature against Romania. Mata played 45 minutes as a starter against Italy and logged 23 minutes as a substitute against Romania.
Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo – Argentina (24/03 (a) v Chile in Santiago and 30/03 (h) v Bolivia in Cordoba) – Both played all 180 minutes.
Matteo Darmian – Italy (24/03 (h) v Spain in Udine and 29/03 (a) v Germany in Munich) – Played all 180 minutes.
Daley Blind and Memphis Depay – Netherlands (25/03 (h) v France in Amsterdam and 29/03 (a) v England in London) – Blind played all 180 minutes, while Depay logged 45 minutes as a substitute against France, where he registered two assists, while he played the full 90 minutes against England.
Antonio Valencia – Ecuador (24/03 (h) v Paraguay in Quito and 29/03 (a) v Colombia in Barranquilla) – Played all 180 minutes.
Paddy McNair – Northern Ireland (24/03 (a) v Wales in Cardiff and 28/03 (h) v Slovenia in Belfast) – Played 74 minutes against Wales, and 79 minutes against Slovenia.
Chris Smalling – England (26/03 (a) v Germany in Berlin and 29/03 (h) v Netherlands in London) – Played the full 90 minutes in Berlin and 70 minutes at Wembley on Tuesday night.
Bastian Schweinsteiger – Germany (26/03 (h) v England in Berlin and 29/03 (h) v Italy in Munich) – The midfielder picked up another knee injury in training before the England match, and could be ruled out for the remainder of the season having suffered a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
Marouane Fellaini – Belgium (29/03 (a) v Portugal in Leiria – Played 79 minutes.
Anthony Martial – France (25/03 (a) v Netherlands in Amsterdam and 29/03 (h) v Russia in Paris) – Came on as a half-time substitute against Netherlands, and provided an assist for Blaise Matuidi’s late winner. Started the second match against Russia, but only played 45 minutes once again.
Marcus Rashford – England U20 (27/03 (h) v Canada in Doncaster) – 90 minutes.

Part two of our assessment, which covers the other ten Premier League teams, will be published later today.