Harry Kane limps out of Spurs’ win over Sunderland after sustaining ankle ligament damage. Romelu Lukaku is expected to be available for Everton’s weekend trip to Bournemouth, and Roberto Firmino shrugs off a groin problem to be passed fit for Liverpool’s EFL Cup clash with Derby this evening.
Harry Kane, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier
In today’s EFL press conference, Mauricio Pochettino conceded that Harry Kane is set for a period on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury during Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Sunderland on Sunday.
“He has injured his ankle ligaments. We will continue to assess him every day but don’t want to put a timeframe on it.”
The news comes as a major blow to the north London club after Kane – the only striker to start every Gameweek in 2015/16 – had scored in back-to-back league encounters.
His absence now provides Vincent Janssen with an opportunity to prove himself at White Hart Lane. The Dutchman is available at just 7.8 in FPL, and with some favourable fixtures over the coming month or so, he is undoubtedly one to monitor.
The news was more positive on Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier, though, after the pair were also withdrawn against the Black Cats:
“We will assess Dembele & Dier today and see what happens. We’re not expecting any big issues”.
Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian striker was substituted as a precaution during Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough with a toe injury, and has been ruled out of tonight’s EFL Cup tie against Everton.
Lukaku will resume training later this week, and is expected to be available to face Bournemouth on Saturday.
That news will come as a relief to the 92,000+ Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers that have drafted in the Everton forward on the back of his four goals and one assist over the last two Gameweeks.
Lukaku has made a compelling case for a spot in our three-man frontlines regardless of the return of Man City’s Sergio Aguero this weekend.
Roberto Firmino
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp revealed the Brazilian has returned to training after missing the 2-1 win at Chelsea due to a minor groin injury and is in the squad for tonight’s EFL Cup tie against Derby.
Speaking about the attacker, Klopp explained how Firmino’s situation had been managed over the past few days:
“We gave him yesterday and today again because the medical department told me that he could have played (on Friday). But I heard the word risk too often, so I decided no. I’m very happy that it worked out. They told me if we give him three days then everything will be perfect. Today (Monday) is the fourth day. He has already had three, so he is in.”
While Firmino’s 9% ownership in FPL may prefer that he doesn’t feature against the Rams in order to preserve him for this weekend’s home encounter against Hull City, the news that the injury isn’t a serious one will certainly come as a relief.
The Brazilian scored two goals and provided an assist in his last two outings for the Reds, and at 8.4 in FPL looks a prime option given Liverpool’s soft upcoming schedule over the coming months.
Klopp faces a dilemma in attack this weekend, then, with Daniel Sturridge looking the likeliest to drop out in the front three, allowing Firmino to operate as a “false nine”, with Philippe Coutinho on the left.
Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw
The French international had to be withdrawn during the first half of Man United’s 3-1 defeat at Watford due to a head injury, and United boss Jose Mourinho didn’t appear to be too sure what had happened to Martial when speaking in his post-match news conference:
“I don’t know. I promise I don’t know. You are asking me things I cannot tell you. I didn’t know why he came off whether he was injured in his knee, his ankle or his head. I don’t know. I just know in that moment he is not in a condition to carry on. I don’t know why I just know I had to change. I don’t know yet what happened. I had to be on the game at that time. And not worrying with Anthony. I have not had time to see about the situation.”
Should Martial have suffered concussion, he will be forced to sit out 10 days, meaning he’ll miss Saturday’s home clash against Leicester. Having already seen his price drop to 9.3 in FPL this week following a fourth consecutive blank, this news may well see his ownership continue to shrink.
In regards to Luke Shaw, the United defender is set to undergo scans after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury during Sunday’s match.
There are reports the defender could be ruled out for three weeks with the injury, which would see him miss home matches against Leicester and Stoke. Mourinho may consider using Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian or even Ashley Young at left-back should Shaw be ruled out, though Daley Blind could operate in that position, allowing Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly to continue in central defence.
Olivier Giroud, Gabriel
The French international has been ruled out of tonight’s EFL Cup clash against Nottingham Forest, and faces a “race against time” to prove his fitness for Saturday’s home clash against Chelsea.
Should Giroud not be available to face the Blues, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would seem likely to continue with Alexis Sanchez as the lone striker for the Gunners following his side’s impressive 4-1 victory at Hull, with Lucas Perez still bedding down.
After scoring twice against the Tigers, and with a kind run of fixtures following this weekend’s match-up with Chelsea, Sanchez looks primed to continue his strong form.
At the back, Gabriel “has a chance” of facing Forest, though is likely to remain behind Shkodran Mustafi in the race to partner Laurent Koscielny against the Blues this weekend.
James Tomkins
Tomkins was seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches following their 4-1 win over Stoke on Sunday, with Alan Pardew revealing the defender had stretched his knee when going for a tackle during the final stages of the first half.
Speaking after the match, the Palace boss seemed to suggest the former West Ham player could be a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Sunderland:
“We’ll just have to see how it is. Hopefully it’s not too bad.”
Tomkins made his first league start for the Eagles on Sunday, and after scoring his first goal for the club, could well have kept his place in the side had he not picked up an injury. Should he be ruled out for the match at the Stadium of Light, Damien Delaney, who replaced Tomkins at half-time, should earn a recall to the starting XI.
But with Marko Arnautovic’s late consolation goal meaning Palace have yet to keep a clean sheet this season, it’s unlikely Fantasy managers will be too keen to invest in the Eagles backline. Scott Dann’s second league goal of the season suggests that he could be worth the 5.5 outlay, though.
Kasper Schmeichel
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri revealed goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel will sit out tonight’s EFL Cup clash against Chelsea due to concussion, with Ron-Robert Zieler keeping his place in the side.
The Italian explained that Schmeichel should be fit to face Man United on Saturday:
“He is good, much better but Zieler made a very good match so I will continue with him. I think Kasper is ready for the weekend.”
Schmeichel’s 11.1% ownership in FPL will have been frustrated to miss out on just the Foxes second clean sheet of the season on Saturday, particularly with difficult away matches to United and Chelsea over the next three Gameweeks.
Adam Clayton
The Middlesbrough midfielder is being assessed this week after sustaining a knock during Saturday’s loss at Everton. Clayton dropped to the bench for the first time this season as Aitor Karanka opted for new signing Martin de Roon in the centre of the park and any potential absence would allow Adam Forshaw to retain his spot in the double-pivot.
Patrick van Aanholt, Jermain Defoe
It has been confirmed this morning that the Sunderland defender was removed from the original line-up selected by David Moyes against Tottenham on Sunday after cardiologists suggested he shouldn’t play following results of tests on his heart.
Moyes revealed the left-back has been named in the squad to face QPR tomorrow night, but explained van Aanholt will undergo further tests, with it yet to be decided if he’ll play in the EFL Cup tie.
Van Aanholt’s status for Saturday’s home fixture against Crystal Palace still looks a little uncertain then, with Javier Manquillo likely to continue at left-back should the Dutchman not be risked against the Eagles.
Defoe, meanwhile, has been ruled out of the cup clash against QPR with a minor knock, though Moyes hinted his exclusion is with one eye on Saturday’s upcoming clash with Palace:
“Jermain took a bit of an injury in the game – he’s got a knock – so he won’t go and more importantly I need to make sure he’s fit for the game at the weekend.”
Daryl Janmaat
Forced off with a shoulder problem early on in the second-half of Watford’s win over United, the Dutch international is doubtful for the trip to Burnley on Monday evening. Janmaat – who bagged 12 assists for Newcastle in the last two seasons – laid on the opening goal in the 3-1 victory, with Nordin Amrabat in line to deputise at right wing-back should he miss out. At 4.5 to Janmaat’s 5.0, though, fellow wing-back Jose Holebas is looking the most appealing route into the Hornets’ backline.
Chris Brunt, Nacer Chadli
Having missed out on Northern Ireland’s Euro 2016 campaign due to a serious knee injury, Chris Brunt is stepping up his return to fitness after playing just over an hour for West Brom’s reserves yesterday.
Speaking to the club’s official website after the 5-2 victory over Aston Villa, the defender revealed he’s hoping to get more minutes under his belt over the next few weeks as he edges towards a first-team return.
There’s also positive news on Nacer Chadli, with the Belgian revealing after the match that he was only suffering from cramp during the latter stages of Saturday’s 4-2 win against West Ham.
The 6.4-valued midfielder has already been transferred in by over 35,000 FPL bosses this week following his 21-point haul against the Hammers and faces reasonable match-ups away to Stoke and Sunderland over the next two Gameweeks.
Sam Byram, Winston Reid
Both defenders missed the loss at West Brom due to injury as West Ham conceded four goals for the second successive Gameweek.
Slaven Bilic failed to give an update on either player in today’s press conference ahead of the EFL Cup clash against Accrington Stanley.
The Croatian did confirm that Alvaro Arbeloa could be handed a debut at tomorrow, while Reece Oxford could also be afforded a start.
Arbeloa looks set to vie with Byram for the right-back berth now, while a possible return for Reid would see James Collins or Angelo Ogbonna drop to the bench for the weekend match against Southampton.
