The absence of Dimitri Payet in Sunday’s West Ham win over Bournemouth has proved the catalyst for a wave of Fantasy Premier League transfer activity. The second Treatment Table of the season checks in at West Ham, where Slaven Bilic provides an update on the Frenchman along with striker Andy Carroll who, once again, faces a disruptive spell on the sidelines.
Dimitri Payet & Andy Carroll
Dimitri Payet’s unexpected omission from Sunday’s matchday squad has triggered thousands to extract the Frenchman from their squad.
The Frenchman missed out after sustaining a problem in his cameo appearance at Chelsea in Gameweek 1, with Slaven Bilic stating that he was not prepared to risk his key man for the clash with the Cherries:
“[Payet] was okay and then he felt something against Chelsea, after the game. It’s nothing big, he’s back in training, but it’s too early and the risk would be enormous. Everybody knows what he means for us, and, of course, we would have loved for him to play, but it was impossible.”
Payet has been sold by over 122,000 at the time of writing and yet Bilic has today indicated that the playmaker is in line to return, either in the midweek Europa League tie with Astra Giurgiu, or on Sunday for the visit to Manchester City. The Hammers boss also suggested that Manuel Lanzini was close to a return:
“A few of them, like Lanzini and Payet, should be back Thursday and if not Thursday then Sunday.”
Bilic has also reportedly stated that Sofiane Feghouli’s return is imminent after he missed out on both of the Hammers’ opening two fixtures:
“Feghouli should be back very very soon.”
The news will perhaps temper the current enthusiasm in Michail Antonio. The 7.0 Fantasy Premier League option returned to a role on the flank against Bournemouth, claiming the decisive goal in Sunday’s victory. However, with Payet, Lanzini and Feghouli set for returns, there’s little doubt that Bilic will have multiple options in attacking areas before or very soon after the international break.
Bilic’s options in the central role look far more limited following news of the knee injury sustained by Andy Carroll.
Another surprise omission from the West Ham line-up on Sunday, Carroll now faces several weeks on the sidelines according to Bilic:
“You’re asking me about him, okay. It depends what you mean by long term, but I say a few weeks…Four weeks but I am optimistic, they told me four to six weeks so I say four, it is nothing major. Andy is Andy, it’s a big blow for us, a big question mark, a big frustration.”
Carroll himself later took to social media to express his own frustration after suffering yet another injury setback:
“Devastated about my recent injured but I’m still the 15-20 goal man!”
Bilic turned to Enner Valencia to lead the attack against Bournemouth but withdrew him on 63 minutes after an ineffectual display, handing Jonathan Calleri his Hammers debut. That pair will likely contest for a start at Manchester City, with Bilic likely to be pondering another move into the market to cover for the injuries to Carroll and Andre Ayew.
Ayew is set to be ruled out until December according to Bilic, who also updated us on a proposed return date for left-back Aaron Cresswell:
“The only two that are going to be long term and we are not talking the whole season is Cress and Andre. Even Cress because he is a very good healer should be back in October. Andre if everything goes according to what the doctor says can be playing on the pitch on 1st December but I want to stay positive and all that.”
That news on Cresswell will likely prolong the run of Arthur Masuaku in the starting XI. The Frenchman has started the season strongly and claimed an FPL bonus point in Sunday’s win.
Victor Valdes
Middlesbrough earned three points at Sunderland without their first choice keeper, Victor Valdes. The Spanish stopper missed out with a muscle problem, with manager Aitor Karanka indicating that his absence was somewhat precautionary:
“Victor felt something (in training) and we thought it wasn’t anything serious. It isn’t serious but I don’t like to take any risks with muscle injuries, so he didn’t play. Without Victor, we had Brad Guzan in goal, and Dimi on the bench. So I was calm.”
Brad Guzan deputised at the Stadium of Light but Valdes would seem likely to come back into the frame for the trip to West Brom on Saturday, should Karanka look to shuffle a winning side.
Nampalys Mendy
Claudio Ranieri lost midfield destroyer Nampalys Mendy on 53 minutes against Arsenal on Saturday evening. According to the Leicester boss’ post-match comments, the Frenchman suffered an ankle problem and was due for scans earlier today:
“He twisted his ankle and tomorrow we will check everything. I hope it is nothing serious. He has blocked the ankle and he is not happy afterwards of course. Now it is blocked so I am not so happy and I am not so sure he can recover for the next week right now. Tomorrow we will see.”
Already there are some reports suggesting that Ranieri fears Mendy will be sidelined for several weeks as a result of the injury.
Andy King started ahead of Mendy at Hull City and replaced him in the stalemate with the Gunners. He would seem poised to come in against Swansea City at the weekend, although Ranieri could also consider Daniel Amartey as a more defensively minded replacement.
Ranieri has also confirmed that Jeffrey Schlupp missed the Arsenal clash through injury, with reports suggesting that he could be sidelined for a month with a muscle injury.
Etienne Capoue
Watford’s Etienne Capoue is already threatening cult status as our FPL budget midfielder of choice this season having notched in back-to-back weekends. However, the Frenchman could head into Gameweek 3 as an injury doubt having sustained a knock in a clash with Diego Costa in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat. He was forced off on 84 minutes at Vicarage Road.
Little is known on the problem other than it is a calf injury sustained through impact with the Chelsea striker. Watford face Gillingham in the League Cup tomorrow evening which may offer us insight on his condition.
Willian
Chelsea went into the encounter with Watford with their own casualty as Willian sat out the victory with a calf problem.
Antonio Conte did, however, seem very relaxed on the scale of the issue, which would suggest a swift return for the Brazilian:
“He has a small problem with his calf so better not risked today. It’s a little problem.”
Willian’s absence allowed Pedro a run-out at Vicarage Road but, given Conte’s statement, we’d expect him to return against Burnley on Saturday. Tomorrow night’s teamsheet against Bristol Rovers will offer some guidance on the likelihood of that should Pedro make an appearance.
John O’Shea
David Moyes’ early troubles at the Stadium of Light were escalated by a first half injury to John O’Shea in Sunday’s defeat to Middlesbrough.
The experienced campaigner suffered a groin problem and was forced off on 37 minutes. Moyes brought us this post-match:
“O’Shea popped his groin, we think. We’ll have to assess that and see how it is.”
The Sunderland boss shifted Jack Rodwell to his defence to cover for O’Shea’s absence, preferring to keep new signing Paddy McNair in a holding midfield role, only to replace the former United man at half-time.
O’Shea is an obvious doubt for the trip to Southampton at the weekend – a testing away trip without his experience at the back.
Fabio Borini could also be missing for the visit to St Mary’s – he sat out Sunday’s encounter with a toe injury.
Damian Delaney
Alan Pardew watched on while his side conceded the decisive goal with Damian Delaney off the pitch nursing an ankle injury. The centre back was replaced by James Tomkins as Palace conceded almost immediately from a corner whilst re-organising their defence.
Palace and Pardew have released very few details on Delaney’s condition and he looks almost certain to miss tomorrow night’s League Cup tie with Blackpool. That will give Tomkins an opportunity for a first competitive start for the Eagles ahead of the home encounter with Bournemouth in Gameweek 3.
Oriol Romeu
Southampton’s combative midfielder was an early first-half casualty at Old Trafford on Monday night, forced from the field on 12 minutes.
Details on the injury remain vague, although the player himself has taken to social media to offer reassurance.
“Sad for the defeat. Nothing serious from my injury. Thanks for your messages and support.”
Bacary Sagna
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City eased to a 4-1 win at Stoke City without the services of right-back Bacary Sagna after he also sat out the midweek Champions League tie with Steaua Bucharest.
The Frenchman started City’s league opener with Sunderland in Gameweek 1 but was replaced by Pablo Zabaleta, both against Steaua and at the bet365 stadium on Saturday.
Guardiola offered this optimistic update on the full-back’s prognosis…
“Bacary has a little, little problem but it’s nothing big. That’s why he didn’t start in [midweek at] Bucharest, we don’t want to take a risk.”
It seems likely that the former Arsenal man could be back in contention for the visit of West Ham on Sunday.
Lewis Cook
Eddie Howe was forced to change his midfield line-up for the trip to the London Stadium on Sunday, with Gameweek 1 debutant Lewis Cook missing out with an ankle problem. Howe brought us this prior to kick-off:
“Lewis Cook picked up a slight ankle injury yesterday, it’s nothing too serious so we hope to have him back very soon.”
Cook’s absence paved the way for Ryan Fraser to earn a start against the Hammers. It remains to be seen if Howe shakes things up again should Cook return to contention ahead of Saturday’s trip to Palace.
Xherdan Shaqiri & Glen Johnson
There was an update from the Stoke City camp earlier today ahead of their League Cup tie with Stevenage.
Mark Hughes offered news on Xherdan Shaqiri and Glen Johnson, who both sat out the 4-1 reverse to Manchester City on Saturday.
“Xherdan Shaqiri is still a little bit away, although he is getting there. Glen Johnson trained this morning but I wouldn’t expect him to play with it being his first session back but hopefully we’ll have an eye on him for the weekend’s game at Everton.”
The pair would therefore seem to be in with a chance of making returns at Everton on Saturday.
Phil Bardsley has been deputising at right-back in Johnson’s absence, while Shaqiri’s starting role went to Joe Allen against City. The Welshman would seem likely to contest a start at Everton regardless of Shaqiri’s status, which could cast some doubt over starts for either Glenn Whelan or even Bojan in the number ten role. The Spaniard could be shifted forward at Goodison with Mame Biram Diouf possibly making way.
