The Treatment Table – Gameweek 11

Alexis Sanchez hands Arsenal an international injury scare. Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli is set for a stint on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury. Jose Mourinho weighs in on the subject of Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling after the pair miss Manchester United’s win in South Wales, while Stoke City stopper Jack Butland edges closer towards a return to action and Fantasy consideration. Here’s our review of the latest news from around the Premier League treatment tables…

Alexis Sanchez

Breaking from sources in Chile on Tuesday afternoon, reports suggest that Alexis Sanchez has suffered a calf problem with the attacker set to undergo tests – the fears are that he may have sustained a tear.

The claims have been made by CNN Chile and subsequently picked up by the UK press.

Sanchez is due to represent his country in Thursday’s World Cup Qualifier with Columbia but is described as a “major doubt” for that game.

There’s little to go on at this present time but, clearly, the suggestion that Sanchez may have suffered a torn calf muscle casts some doubt on his availability for the Gameweek 12 trip to Old Trafford.

Sanchez has already suffered more than 44,000 sales ahead of Gameweek 12 as FPL managers scramble for a method of acquiring Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.

Dele Alli, Kyle Walker

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino was dealt a huge blow ahead of Sunday’s north London derby after Dele Alli suffered a knee injury in training.

Speaking to the press ahead of the match, Pochettino revealed the midfielder could be sidelined for the next few weeks:

“We need to assess him today and tomorrow. He’ll be out for a few weeks. We hope it’s not a big issue. It’s bad luck he was in the team he’s an important player but that’s football.”

The England international is set to miss the Gameweek 12 clash against West Ham United, then, and could also struggle to get back in time for the trip to Stamford Bridge at the end of this month.

Interest in Spurs’ attack is at a low right now, with the Son Heung-Min exodus taking the Korean’s ownership down to 7%.

Nonetheless, the upcoming schedule could reignite their points potential. With home clashes against West Ham, Swansea, Hull City and Burnley in the next seven, Harry Kane is shaping up to be a deadly differential with 5% ownership after returning from injury to net against Arsenal on Sunday.

While Kyle Walker hasn’t pulled out of the England squad, the defender did pick up a knock against Arsenal which forced him to be replaced with 10 minutes remaining.

The chances of him being fit to face West Ham after the international break still appear pretty high, then, but given he’s the most popular defender in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) with 37.1% ownership, Walker’s status will be keenly monitored.

Luke Shaw

The Man United left-back missed Sunday’s 3-1 win over Swansea City after reportedly suffering a leg injury during the 2-1 defeat to Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

United boss Jose Mourinho has since criticised Shaw, and his team-mate Chris Smalling, who also sat out Sunday’s match, for not being able to play through the pain barrier:

“Smalling doesn’t feel that he can play 100% with his pain, Luke Shaw told me this morning that he was not in the condition to play, so we had to build a defensive line. There is a difference between the brave, who want to be there at any cost, and the ones for whom a little pain can make a difference… For the team you have to do anything, that is my way of seeing [things]. Of course, it is not just the players; it is the players and the people that surround the players.”

Although the next 10 days affords both players the chance to fully recover from their knocks, Mourinho’s comments raise question marks over the pair’s likelihood of selection for the match against Arsenal.

With two clean sheets in eight, and the likes of Eric Bailly and Antonio Valencia sidelined for a period of time, United’s defence holds little appeal right now.

Callum Wilson

The Bournemouth forward missed Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Sunderland after suffering a slight knock in training.

It sounds hopeful that Wilson will be fit to return for the Cherries trip to Stoke City after the international break, then, although with no details on the exact nature of the injury, his status will need to be watched closely as we approach Gameweek 12.

It’s worth noting that Wilson then faces back-to-back clashes against Arsenal and Liverpool, suggesting that his 5% of FPL owners may already be plotting an exit route.

Willian

Chelsea’s official website confirmed the Brazilian missed out against Everton due to illness, so the midfielder should be available to return for the trip to Middlesbrough following the international break.

But given the form of Pedro over the past few weeks, Willian looks unlikely to earn a recall to the Chelsea starting XI at the Riverside.

Pedro has now started four successive league fixtures on the right flank, producing two goals and four assists over that period, and has already earned a price rise since last weekend.

Will Keane, Abel Hernandez

Both Hull City forwards were forced off with injuries during the first-half of Sunday’s 2-1 win over Southampton, and Tigers boss Mike Phelan believes both players could set for extended spells on the sidelines:

“Medically, the signs are not very good. Keane looks the worst of the two but both of them will be out for a period of time. It’s a case of let’s wait and see. It doesn’t look good for either of them for a period of time. They’re crazy injuries.”

Keane went down with a knee injury, while Hernandez suffered a groin strain – earlier today, the club confirmed he is expected to be out for around a month.

Losing both strikers would leave Phelan desperately short of attacking options, with Dieumerci Mbokani the only fit senior forward at the club.

Phelan may have to tinker with the 3-5-2 formation he’s been using in recent weeks then, with a move to a 3-4-3 likely, particularly given the return to fitness of Robert Snodgrass.

The absence of Hernandez could also see the Scot handed spot-kick duties, as evidenced by the Gameweek 5 home loss to Arsenal, where Snodgrass converted a second-half penalty after the Uruguayan was replaced.

Dejan Lovren

The Liverpool defender missed Sunday’s emphatic 6-1 victory over Watford due to a virus.

But given the international break is now upon us, Lovren, who isn’t currently part of the Croatia squad, should have enough time to fully recover ahead of the trip to his former club Southampton in Gameweek 12.

Lucas Leiva deputised at centre-back alongside Joel Matip against the Hornets but looks likely to drop to the bench to accommodate Lovren at St Mary’s.

Danny Drinkwater

The Leicester City midfielder was forced to withdrawfrom the England squad for the matches against Scotland and Spain after suffering bruised ribs during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

Drinkwater was sent home after medical checks by the England staff, but with 11 days until the champions travel to Watford, he may well have enough time to fully recover and be declared fit for the trip to Vicarage Road.

Fernando

The Man City midfielder was left out for Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough as a precaution after picking up a minor knock during training, according to City manager Pep Guardiola:

“Fernando was a little bit of a problem in the training session and the doctor said it was a risk.”

Given Guardiola also rested Nicolas Otamendi and Raheem Sterling against ‘Boro, it’s expected that all three players will be fit to return against Crystal Palace after the international break providing there are no issues while they’re away on international duty.

Fraser Forster

The Southampton goalkeeper withdrew from the England squad yesterday due to what was described as a “slight injury” on the club’s official website.

Forster will now undergo treatment during the international break, but with 11 days until Saints host Liverpool, he should have a good chance of being fit to face the league leaders.

If Forster were to be ruled out, veteran goalkeeper Stuart Taylor would probably have to deputise if Alex McCarthy remains sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

Jack Butland

The Stoke goalkeeper returned to training yesterday following his latest setback in his bid to fully recover from an ongoing ankle injury.

While Lee Grant has been in good form of late for the Potters, the news will come as a huge boost for Stoke manager Mark Hughes, with Butland one of the club’s star performers last season.

Although the report suggests Butland will be eyeing up a return against either Bournemouth in Gameweek 12 or at Watford a week later, there’s little doubt Stoke will be cautious regarding Butland’s recovery, given he’s suffered a couple of setbacks since breaking his ankle while playing for England against Germany in March.

Nonetheless, Grant’s 2% FPL owners may soon need to look elsewhere, with Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford looking the most secure of the sub-4.5 stoppers once again.

Victor Anichebe, Jack Rodwell

Anichebe suffered a broken rib during the first-half of Sunderland’s 2-1 win at Bournemouth, but played through the pain barrier to complete all 90 minutes at the Vitality Stadium, despite admitting he “couldn’t move properly.”

The fact the striker was able to complete the match suggests the injury may be able to be managed, with the international break coming at a good time in that regard.

Providing he can recover in time for the home clash against Hull, Anichebe could flourish if handed a role up top alongside Jermain Defoe once again. At just 4.5 in FPL, he could appeal to those keen on a 3-5-2 set-up, though given his injury history, few will be prepared to take a chance right now.

As for Rodwell, he missed Saturday’s win due to a hamstring injury. With midfielders Jan Kirchhoff and Lee Cattermole closing in on first-team returns, Rodwell will be struggling to find a spot in the starting XI once those two, along with Sebastian Larsson, are back to full fitness.

Jefferson Montero

The Swansea City winger flew to meet up with the Ecuador squad following the 3-1 defeat to Man United, but after being checked by the national team doctor, the Welsh club’s worst fears were confirmed with an x-ray showing the winger had suffered a broken hand during Sunday’s match.

Montero will now see a specialist to assess whether he can continue playing with a cast, with one report suggesting he could face an extended period on the sidelines.

While it’s unlikely the midfielder will be ruled out for that long a period, the news will come as a huge blow to Swansea boss Bob Bradley, given Montero had only just returned from a calf injury.

Wayne Routledge and Mo Barrow look the preferred options in a 4-2-3-1, though Bradley’s decision to start with a 4-4-2 on Sunday saw Gylfi Sigurdsson initially stationed on the left as Barrow dropped to the bench for the first time under the new manager.

Heurelho Gomes

The Watford goalkeeper was forced off with a knee injury during Sunday’s 6-1 defeat to Liverpool and is set to undergo scans to assess the severity of the problem.

Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri admitted he wasn’t sure if it was a twist or just a knock, but the early signs don’t appear particularly encouraging.

Costel Pantilimon replaced the stricken Brazilian on Sunday and would be expected to deputise. Watford chalked up three straight clean sheets prior to their thrashing at Anfield and, at a price of 4.3 in FPL, could be worth considering if Gomes is sidelined for a period of time.

James Collins, Winston Reid

Reid missed last week’s clash with Stoke due to suspension but is now rated a doubt for the trip to Tottenham Hotspur due to a hamstring problem.

Collins has withdrawn from the Wales squad for their World Cup qualifier against Serbia due to a calf injury.

If both are ruled out next time out, Slaven Bilic could return to a four-man backline, with Angelo Ogbonna and Cheikhou Kouyate at centre-half. Given that Mark Noble is suspended, though, Bilic will be desperate for Reid and Collins to be available, thus affording him the option of shifting Kouyate into central midfield as cover at the Lane.