With so many Premier League players travelling all over the globe during the international break, we’ve closely monitored the activity of all of the key names 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 8.
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger’s main consideration will once again surround Alexis Sanchez and his long journey home from South America following exertions with Chile.
The Gunners host Swansea on Saturday and the Chilean was only used as a substitute following the previous international break, though Arsenal did have a Champions League clash with PSG to follow.
Elsewhere, Wenger’s concerns over Hector Bellerin’s fitness were calmed this week – the full-back picked up a knock for Spain U21s first fixture but was fit to play the second match, proving his fitness by lasting the 90 minutes.
David Ospina – Colombia (07/10 (a) v Paraguay in Asunción and 11/10 (h) v Uruguay in Barranquilla) – 180 minutes.
Laurent Koscielny – France (07/10 (h) v Bulgaria in Paris and 10/10 (a) v Holland in Amsterdam) – Played all 180 minutes.
Nacho Monreal – Spain (06/10 (a) v Italy in Turin and 09/10 (a) v Albania in Shkodër – Didn’t feature against Italy, but played the full match against Albania, and provided an assist in the 2-0 win.
Hector Bellerin – Spain U21 (05/10 (a) v San Marino in Serravalle and 10/10 (h) v Estonia in Pontevedra) – Played all 180 minutes, although he did pick up a knock during the first match against San Marino.
Shkodran Mustafi and Mesut Ozil – Germany (08/10 (h) v Czech Republic in Hamburg and 11/10 (h) v Northern Ireland in Hannover) – Mustafi was limited to just 21 minutes as a substitute in the 2-0 win over Northern Ireland. Ozil played the full 90 minutes against Czech Republic. He also started against Northern Ireland, but was substituted at half-time. The Arsenal midfielder has since tweeted that there in no injury issue.
Rob Holding – England U21 (06/10 (a) v Kazakhstan in Aktobe and 11/10 (h) v Bosnia-Herzegovina in Walsall) – Played the full match against Kazakhstan, but didn’t feature against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Mohamed Elneny – Egypt (09/10 (a) v Congo in Brazzaville) – Played the full match in a 2-1 win for Egypt.
Granit Xhaka – Switzerland (07/10 (a) v Hungary in Budapest and 10/10 (a) v Andorra in Andorra la Vella) – Missed the Hungary match due to suspension but played the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Andorra.
Alex Iwobi – Nigeria (09/10 (a) v Zambia in Ndola) – Played all 90 minutes, and scored in the 2-1 win.
Alexis Sanchez – Chile (06/10 (a) v Ecuador in Quito and 12/10 (h) v Peru in Santiago – Played all 180 minutes.
Theo Walcott – England (08/10 (h) v Malta in London and 11/10 (a) v Slovenia in Ljubljana) – Started both matches, playing 68 minutes against Malta, and 62 minutes in Ljubljana.
Bournemouth
Brad Smith will have a long flight back to England from Australia, but given he’s not a starter for the Cherries, Eddie Howe doesn’t appear to have any major concerns coming out of the international break.
Artur Boruc – Poland (08/10 (h) v Denmark in Warsaw and 11/10 (h) v Armenia in Warsaw) – Was an unused substitute in both matches.
Brad Smith – Australia (06/10 (a) v Saudi Arabia in Jeddah and 11/10 (h) v Japan in Melbourne) – 180 minutes.
Nathan Ake – Holland U21 (06/10 (h) v Turkey in Alkmaar and 11/10 (a) v Cyprus in Larnaca) – Only played 31 minutes as a substitute against Cyprus.
Max Gradel – Ivory Coast (08/10 (h) v Mali in Bouaké) – Played 73 minutes in the 3-1 victory.
Josh King – Norway (08/10 (a) v Azerbaijan in Baku and 11/10 (h) v San Marino in Oslo) – Played 61 minutes against Azerbaijan, and the full 90 minutes in the 4-1 win over San Marino, where he netted the fourth goal.
Burnley
All of Sean Dyche’s international contingent saw minutes over the last week or so, but with all of them playing in Europe, and with no injuries reported, there shouldn’t be any issues ahead of Sunday’s trip to Southampton.
Stephen Ward and Jeff Hendrick – (Republic of Ireland (06/10 (h) v Georgia in Dublin and 09/10 (a) v Moldova in Chişinău) – Ward played all 180 minutes, while Hendrick played the full match against Georgia, but missed the trip to Moldova due to suspension.
Steven Defour – Belgium (07/10 (h) v Bosnia-Herzegovina in Brussels and 10/10 (a) v Gibraltar in São João da Venda) – Was an unused substitute in the first match, but played the full 90 minutes in the 6-0 win over Gibraltar, with the midfielder registering an assist in the comprehensive victory.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson – Iceland (06/10 (h) v Finland in Reykjavík and 09/10 (h) v Turkey in Reykjavík) – Played all 180 minutes and laid on an assist in the 3-2 win against Finland.
Sam Vokes – Wales (06/10 (a) v Austria in Vienna and 09/10 (h) v Georgia in Cardiff) – Played 77 minutes in Vienna, and the full match against Georgia.
Chelsea
Willian and Oscar will endure long journeys back to England, but with neither playing all 180 minutes for Brazil, they should stand a good chance of being able to start against Leicester on Saturday. Blues boss Antonio Conte will have been delighted to see both Eden Hazard and Diego Costa amongst the goals over the break.
Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi – Belgium (07/10 (h) v Bosnia-Herzegovina in Brussels and 10/10 (a) v Gibraltar in São João da Venda) – Courtois played all 180 minutes, and kept two clean sheets. Hazard played 79 minutes in the first match, and registered a goal and an assist in the 4-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. He then played the full match against Gibraltar, and again claimed a goal and an assist in a 6-0 victory. Batshuayi was limited to just 10 minutes off the bench against Gibraltar.
Asmir Begovic – Bosnia-Herzegovina (07/10 (a) v Belgium in Brussels and 10/10 (h) v Cyprus in Zenica) – 180 minutes.
Branislav Ivanovic – Serbia (06/10 (a) v Moldova in Chişinău and 09/10 (h) v Austria in Belgrade) – Played all 180 minutes, and scored in the 3-0 win over Moldova.
Gary Cahill – England (08/10 (h) v Malta in London and 11/10 (a) v Slovenia in Ljubljana) – 180 minutes.
John Obi Mikel – Nigeria (09/10 (a) v Zambia in Ndola) – Played the full 90 minutes.
Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek – England U21 (06/10 (a) v Kazakhstan in Aktobe and 11/10 (h) v Bosnia-Herzegovina in Walsall) – Chalobah played the full 90 minutes against Kazakhstan, and 45 minutes in the 5-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. Loftus-Cheek played 73 minutes in the first match, but didn’t feature in the second.
N’Golo Kante – France (07/10 (h) v Bulgaria in Paris and 10/10 (a) v France in Amsterdam) – Limited to just one minute as a substitute in the 1-0 win against Holland.
Willian and Oscar – Brazil (07/10 (h) v Bolivia in Natal and 12/10 (a) v Venezuela in Mérida) – Willian played 21 minutes as a substitute in the first match, before playing 89 minutes in the second, scoring in the 2-0 win over Venezuela. Oscar was an unused substitute in both matches.
Diego Costa – Spain (06/10 (a) v Italy in Turin and 09/10 (a) v Albania in Shkodër – Played 67 minutes against Italy, and the full 90 minutes against Albania, netting in a 2-0 victory.
Crystal Palace
Lee Chung-yong will need to be assessed after playing for South Korea on Tuesday, but he’s only likely to be named among the substitutes for Saturday’s home encounter against West Ham.
Alan Pardew will have been buoyed by Christian Benteke’s hat-trick for Belgium, while James McArthur earned further minutes as he featured for Scotland in both matches as he continues to build up his fitness following injury. Yohan Cabaye could still be a bit short of match sharpness, though, having failed to see any playing time for France.
Steve Mandanda – France (07/10 (h) v Bulgaria in Paris and 10/10 (a) v Holland in Amsterdam) – Was an unused substitute in both matches.
Wayne Hennessey and Joe Ledley – Wales (06/10 (a) v Austria in Vienna and 09/10 (h) v Georgia in Cardiff) – Hennessey played all 180 minutes, while Ledley played 90 minutes in Vienna and 73 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Georgia, where he provided the assist for Gareth Bale’s goal.
Lee Chung-yong – South Korea (06/10 (h) v Qatar in Suwon and 11/10 (a) v Iran in Tehran) – Was an unused substitute against Qatar, but played 67 minutes against Iran before being substituted.
James McArthur – Scotland (08/10 (h) v Lithuania in Glasgow and 11/10 (a) v Slovakia in Trnava) – Came on as a half-time substitute against Lithuania, and scored a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw. That goal earned McArthur a recall against Slovakia, where he played the full 90 minutes in the 3-0 defeat.
Yohan Cabaye – France (07/10 (h) v Bulgaria in Paris and 10/10 (a) v Holland in Amsterdam) – Was an unused substitute in both matches.
Andros Townsend – England (08/10 (h) v Malta in London and 11/10 (a) v Slovenia in Ljubljana) – Limited to just 28 minutes off the bench in the goalless draw against Slovenia.
Christian Benteke – Belgium (07/10 (h) v Bosnia-Herzegovina in Brussels and 10/10 (a) v Gibraltar in São João da Venda) – Played eight minutes as a substitute in the first match, before starting against Gibraltar three days later. Benteke took his chance to impress, scoring a hat-trick, before being replaced with 10 minutes remaining.
Everton
Ronald Koeman’s main concern will surround Romelu Lukaku, whose thigh problem will need to be assessed over the coming days ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Etihad.
Ramiro Funes Mori has a long trip back from South America, but he will be expected to start on the bench for the Toffees on Saturday.
Maarten Stekelenburg – Holland (07/10 (h) v Belarus in Rotterdam and 10/10 (h) v France in Amsterdam) – 180 minutes.
Ashley Williams – Wales (06/10 (a) v Austria in Vienna and 09/10 (h) v Georgia in Cardiff) – Played all 180 minutes.
Mason Holgate – England U21 (06/10 (a) v Kazakhstan in Aktobe and 11/10 (h) v Bosnia-Herzegovina in Walsall) – Played the full match against Kazakhstan but didn’t feature against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Ramiro Funes Mori – Argentina (07/10 (a) v Peru in Lima and 12/10 (h) v Paraguay in Cordoba) – Played the full match against Peru, scoring in the 2-2 draw. But didn’t feature in the second match against Paraguay.
Bryan Oviedo – Costa Rica (09/10 (a) v Russia in Krasnodar) – Limited to 15 minutes as a substitute.
Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy – (Republic of Ireland (06/10 (h) v Georgia in Dublin and 09/10 (a) v Moldova in Chişinău) – Coleman played all 180 minutes, and scored the only goal in the win over Georgia, while he provided an assist in the 3-1 win against Moldova. McCarthy played 90 minutes in the first match, and 81 minutes against Moldova on Sunday night.
Idrissa Gueye – Senegal (08/10 (h) v Cape Verde Islands in Dakar) – Played the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 win for Senegal.
Yannick Bolasie – DR Congo (08/10 (h) v Libya in Kinshasa) – Played the full 90 minutes, and registered an assist in the 4-0 win.
Gerard Deulofeu – Spain U21 (05/10 (a) v San Marino in Serravalle and 10/10 (h) v Estonia in Pontevedra) – Started both matches, playing 81 minutes against San Marino, and 86 minutes in the 5-0 win over Estonia.
Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku – Belgium (07/10 (h) v Bosnia-Herzegovina in Brussels and 10/10 (a) v Gibraltar in São João da Venda) – Mirallas came on as a substitute in both matches, playing three minutes against Bosnia-Herzegovina, and 26 minutes against Gibraltar. Lukaku started the first match, and got on the scoresheet, before being forced off with a thigh problem. He was an unused substitute against Gibraltar, and tweeted that he sees the thigh injury as a “little problem.” The Belgian’s status will have to be monitored ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Etihad then.
Enner Valencia – Ecuador (06/10 (h) v Chile in Quito and 11/10 (a) v Bolivia in La Paz) – Played 82 minutes in the 3-0 win over Chile, where he registered an assist, while he played the full 90 minutes against Bolivia, and scored both goals in the 2-2 draw.
Hull City
With Abel Hernandez not playing any part for Uruguay, caretaker manager Mike Phelan will hope the striker is fit for Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth. The confidence of Phelan’s Scottish contingent won’t have been boosted by last night’s 3-0 defeat to Slovakia, though.
David Marshall, Andrew Robertson, Robert Snodgrass and Shaun Maloney – Scotland (08/10 (h) v Lithuania in Glasgow and 11/10 (a) v Slovakia in Trnava) – Marshall and Snodgrass played all 180 minutes, while Robertson played the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Lithuania, before being benched for the 3-0 defeat to Slovakia. Maloney sat out both matches on the bench.
Ahmed Elmohamady – Egypt (09/10 (a) v Congo in Brazzaville) – Was an unused substitute in the 2-1 victory for Egypt.
David Meyler – (Republic of Ireland (06/10 (h) v Georgia in Dublin and 09/10 (a) v Moldova in Chişinău) – Limited to just nine minutes off the bench in the 3-1 win over Moldova.
Markus Henriksen and Adama Diomande – Norway (08/10 (a) v Azerbaijan in Baku and 11/10 (h) v San Marino in Oslo) – Henriksen played all 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Azerbaijan, and also started against San Marino, playing 45 minutes before being replaced at half-time. Diomande played the full match in Baku, but came on for Henriksen at half-time against San Marino, and registered a goal and an assist in the 4-1 win.
Dieumerci Mbokani – DR Congo (08/10 (h) v Libya in Kinshasa) – Played 66 minutes and scored twice in the 4-0 win.
Abel Hernandez – Uruguay (07/10 (h) v Venezuela in Montevideo and 11/10 (a) v Colombia in Barranquilla) – Was an unused substitute in both matches.
Leicester City
Shinji Okazaki will be the main worry for Claudio Ranieri ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stamford Bridge, with the forward a doubt due to an ankle problem.
Ranieri’s African contingent should all have arrived back at Leicester at the start of the week, though, and should be ready to face the Blues at the weekend.
Kasper Schmeichel – Denmark (08/10 (a) v Poland in Warsaw and 11/10 (h) v Montenegro in Copenhagen) – Played all 180 minutes as Denmark lost both matches.
Daniel Amartey and Jeffrey Schlupp – Ghana (07/10 (h) v Uganda in Tamale) – Amartey played all 90 minutes, while Schlupp only featured for 12 minutes off the bench.
Andy King – Wales (06/10 (a) v Austria in Vienna and 09/10 (h) v Georgia in Cardiff) – Played the full match against Austria and 61 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Georgia.
Demarai Gray – England U21 (06/10 (a) v Kazakhstan in Aktobe and 11/10 (h) v Bosnia-Herzegovina in Walsall) – Played 85 minutes in the first match, and scored the only goal of the game. Came off the bench to play the final 17 minutes against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani – Algeria (09/10 (h) v Cameroon in Blida) – Mahrez played 88 minutes in the 1-1 draw, while Slimani played the full match, and registered an assist in the 1-1 draw.
Ahmed Musa – Nigeria (09/10 (a) v Zambia in Ndola) – Limited to just seven minutes as a substitute in the 2-1 win.
Shinji Okazaki – Japan (06/10 (h) v Iraq in Saitama and 11/10 (a) v Australia in Melbourne) – Started against Iraq, but was forced off with an ankle injury after 75 minutes. Didn’t feature against Australia, and is now a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.
Jamie Vardy – England (08/10 (h) v Malta in London and 11/10 (a) v Slovenia in Ljubljana) – Limited to only 17 minutes as a substitute in the 2-0 win over Malta at Wembley.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp will need to check on Georginio Wijnaldum ahead of Monday’s clash against Man United after the midfielder picked up a hamstring problem for Holland on Monday.
The news will come as an added blow given Adam Lallana is also a doubt for the match due to a groin injury. Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino face long journeys back to England, but the extra preparation time should allow both players to recover ahead of the big match.
Firmino in particular should be fine given that he barely featured for Brazil.
Simon Mignolet and Divock Origi – Belgium (07/10 (h) v Bosnia-Herzegovina in Brussels and 10/10 (a) v Gibraltar in São João da Venda) – Were both unused substitutes in both matches.
Ragnar Klavan – Estonia (07/10 (h) v Gibraltar in Tallinn and 10/10 (h) v Greece in Tallinn) – 180 minutes.
Georginio Wijnaldum – Holland (07/10 (h) v Belarus in Rotterdam and 10/10 (h) v France in Amsterdam) – Played the full 90 minutes in the 4-1 win over Belarus, but was forced off 62 minutes into the 1-0 defeat to France due to a hamstring problem. The midfielder now faces a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of the huge clash against Man United on Monday night.
Marko Grujic – Serbia U21 (07/10 (a) v Republic of Ireland in Waterford and 11/10 (h) v Slovenia in Gornji Milanovac) – 180 minutes.
Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge – England (08/10 (h) v Malta in London and 11/10 (a) v Slovenia in Ljubljana) – Henderson played all 180 minutes, managing an assist against Malta, and captained his country for the first time in the 0-0 draw in Ljubljana. Sturridge started both matches and scored in the 2-0 win against Malta. The Liverpool forward totalled 73 minutes in the first match, and 82 minutes in the second.
Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino – Brazil (07/10 (h) v Bolivia in Natal and 12/10 (a) v Venezuela in Mérida) – Coutinho played the full 90 minutes in the first match, and registered a goal and an assist in the 5-0 win against Bolivia. Played 83 minutes against Venezuela before being replaced. Firmino was limited to just 23 minutes as a substitute against Bolivia, although he also netted in the 5-0 victory.
Sadio Mane – Senegal (08/10 (h) v Cape Verde Islands in Dakar) – Played the full 90 minutes and registered an assist in the 2-0 win.
Man City
Pep Guardiola will have been relieved to see that Sergio Aguero was fit to play for Argentina on Wednesday, but also a little worried that he played the full 90 minutes, and now faces a long flight back to Manchester.
Bacary Sagna has been ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury, so while Pablo Zabaleta also faces the long journey home, Guardiola would have been happy to see that the right-back didn’t feature in Argentina’s second match due to suspension, meaning he’s more likely to be able to start against Everton on Saturday. Nicolas Otamendi also returned home early having missed Argentina’s second encounter through suspension.
Fernandinho will need to be assessed after playing both matches for Brazil.
Claudio Bravo – Chile (06/10 (a) v Ecuador in Quito and 12/10 (h) v Peru in Santiago – 180 minutes.
Bacary Sagna – France (07/10 (h) v Bulgaria in Paris and 10/10 (a) v Holland in Amsterdam) – Started against Bulgaria, and picked up an assist for Kevin Gameiro’s opening goal. But was shortly after forced off with a hamstring injury, and has subsequently been ruled out for around three weeks.
Aleksandar Kolarov – Serbia (06/10 (a) v Moldova in Chişinău and 09/10 (h) v Austria in Belgrade) – Played all 180 minutes and provided an assist in the 3-2 victory over Austria.
John Stones – England (08/10 (h) v Malta in London and 11/10 (a) v Slovenia in Ljubljana) – 180 minutes.
Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Aguero – Argentina (07/10 (a) v Peru in Lima and 12/10 (h) v Paraguay in Cordoba) – Zabaleta and Otamendi both played the full 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw against Peru, but neither played featured in the second match against Paraguay. Aguero started both matches but had to be replaced after 73 minutes against Peru after picking up a slight adductor injury. But he was passed fit for the second match and played the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Paraguay, where he also missed a penalty.
Fernandinho – Brazil (07/10 (h) v Bolivia in Natal and 12/10 (a) v Venezuela in Mérida) – Played all 180 minutes.
Ilkay Gundogan – Germany (08/10 (h) v Czech Republic in Hamburg and 11/10 (h) v Northern Ireland in Hannover) – Came on as a substitute in both matches, playing 14 minutes against the Czech Republic, and 45 minutes in the 2-0 win over Northern Ireland.
David Silva and Nolito – Spain (06/10 (a) v Italy in Turin and 09/10 (a) v Albania in Shkodër – Silva played all 180 minutes, and registered an assist in the 2-0 win over Albania. Nolito was limited to just 30 minutes as a substitute against Albania but did manage to get on the scoresheet.
Kelechi Iheanacho – Nigeria (09/10 (a) v Zambia in Ndola) – Played all 90 minutes, and scored in the 2-1 win.
Part Two of International Minutes, detailing the remaining ten teams, will be published tomorrow.
