With the final international break of the calendar year now over, we’ve taken a detailed look into the activity of all the key names over the past 10 days or so.
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 12.
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger’s main concerns surround Alexis Sanchez and Hector Bellerin. The Chilean missed the first international of the break due to a hamstring problem although he did come through without any problems against Uruguay in the early hours of this morning.
But with the Gunners facing Man United in Saturday’s early kick-off, followed by Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain, Sanchez may yet see his minutes reduced over the next few matches.
The Arsenal manager will also need to assess Bellerin, who withdrew from the Spain Under 21 squad after sustaining an ankle injury in training. There are unconfirmed reports of potential ligament damage and perhaps a 3-4 week period on the sidelines for the full-back.
Elsewhere, Wenger will have been happy to see Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud get more minutes under their belts as they continue to build up their match fitness following injury disrupted starts to the season.
David Ospina – Colombia (10/11 (h) v Chile in Barranquilla and 15/11 (a) v Argentina in San Juan) – 180 minutes.
Nacho Monreal – Spain (12/11 (h) v Macedonia in Granada and 15/11 (a) v England in London) – Played the full match against Macedonia, and also got on the scoresheet in the 4-0 win. Was an unused substitute at Wembley.
Rob Holding – England U21 (10/11 (h) v Italy in Southampton and 14/11 (a) v France in Bondoufle) – Was an unused substitute against Italy but played 81 minutes in the 3-2 defeat to France before being substituted.
Shkodran Mustafi – Germany (11/11 (a) v San Marino in Serravalle and 15/11 (a) v Italy in Milan) – Was an unused substitute in the first match but played the full 90 minutes in the goalless draw against Italy.
Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud – France (11/11 (h) v Sweden in Paris and 15/11 (h) v Ivory Coast in Lens) – Koscielny played the full 90 minutes against Sweden, but only played 45 minutes in the friendly with Ivory Coast. Giroud also played the full match against Sweden but was limited to 27 minutes off the bench against Ivory Coast.
Granit Xhaka – Switzerland (13/11 (h) v Faroe Islands in Lucerne) – 90 minutes.
Mohamed Elneny – Egypt (13/11 (h) v Ghana in Borg El Arab) – 90 minutes.
Aaron Ramsey – Wales (12/11 (h) v Serbia in Cardiff) – 90 minutes.
Alex Iwobi – Nigeria (12/11 (h) v Algeria in Uyo) – Played 75 minutes before being substituted.
Theo Walcott – England (11/11 (h) v Scotland in London and 15/11 (h) v Spain in London) – Was an unused substitute against Scotland, but played 63 minutes off the bench in the 2-2 draw with Spain.
Alexis Sanchez – Chile (10/11 (a) v Colombia in Barranquilla and 15/11 (h) v Uruguay in Santiago) – Sat out the first match after suffering hamstring and thigh problems in training, but played 84 minutes in the 3-1 win over Uruguay, and scored twice.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe will have been happy to see Brad Smith get some minutes under his belt following a foot injury, but the Cherries boss shouldn’t have too many concerns surrounding his international contingent ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stoke City.
Artur Boruc – Poland (11/11 (a) v Romania in Bucharest and 14/11 (h) v Slovenia in Wroclaw) – Was an unused substitute in the first match, but played 45 minutes in the friendly against Slovenia.
Brad Smith – Australia (15/11 (a) v Thailand in Bangkok) – 90 minutes.
Harry Arter – Republic of Ireland (12/11 (a) v Austria in Vienna) – 90 minutes.
Max Gradel – Ivory Coast (12/11 (a) v Morocco in Marrakech and 15/11 (a) v France in Lens) – Only played one minute off the bench against Morocco, before playing 86 minutes in the goalless draw with France.
Jack Wilshere – England (11/11 (h) v Scotland in London and 15/11 (h) v Spain in London) – Was an unused substitute in both matches.
Josh King – Norway (11/11 (a) v Czech Republic in Prague) – Played the full 90 minutes, and scored in the 2-1 defeat.
Burnley
Sean Dyche will have been relieved to see Steven Defour’s minutes limited as he comes back from a hamstring problem, while none of his other players had particularly heavy workloads.
Tom Heaton and Michael Keane – England (11/11 (h) v Scotland in London and 15/11 (h) v Spain in London) – Heaton played the second-half in the 2-2 draw against Spain. Keane was an unused substitute in both matches.
Steven Defour – Belgium (09/11 (a) v Holland in Amsterdam and 13/11 (h) v Estonia in Brussels) – Played 82 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Holland, but was an unused substitute against Estonia.
Jeff Hendrick – Republic of Ireland (12/11 (a) v Austria in Vienna) – 90 minutes.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson – Iceland (12/11 (a) v Croatia in Zagreb and 15/11 (a) v Malta in Ta’Qali) – Played the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 defeat to Croatia, but only played 32 minutes as a substitute against Malta.
Sam Vokes – Wales (12/11 (h) v Serbia in Cardiff) – 90 minutes.
Chelsea
Antonio Conte will need to check in on the availability of Eden Hazard after the midfielder picked up a knock during Belgium’s 8-1 win over Estonia. But early reports suggest the kick he received on his calf isn’t serious, so he looks set to be in contention for Sunday’s trip to Middlesbrough.
Chelsea had plenty of players away over the break, so Conte will no doubt be happy to have an extra days preparation compared to the majority of other Premier League sides. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a doubt for the match at the Riverside due to a hamstring problem, while Diego Costa withdrew from the Spain squad due to a groin injury.
Asmir Begovic – Bosnia-Herzegovina (13/11 (a) v Greece in Piraeus) – 90 minutes.
Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi – Belgium (09/11 (a) v Holland in Amsterdam and 13/11 (h) v Estonia in Brussels) – Courtois was an unused substitute in the friendly against Holland, but played all 90 minutes in the 8-1 win over Estonia. Hazard started both matches, playing 90 minutes against Holland, and 73 minutes against Estonia, scoring one goal, before having to be replaced after taking a knock to his calf. Batshuayi was an unused substitute in both matches.
Cesar Azpilicueta – Spain (12/11 (h) v Macedonia in Granada and 15/11 (a) v England in London) – Was an unused substitute in the first match but played the full 90 minutes at Wembley.
Gary Cahill – England (11/11 (h) v Scotland in London and 15/11 (h) v Spain in London) – Played the full match against Scotland, and scored in the 3-0 win. Started against Spain, but only played the first-half before being replaced during half-time.
Branislav Ivanovic and Nemanja Matic – Serbia (12/11 (a) v Wales in Cardiff and 15/11 (a) v Ukraine in Kharkiv) – Ivanovic played the full 90 minutes in Cardiff, but only played 13 minutes off the bench against Ukraine. Matic also completed the full 90 minutes against Wales, but then sat out the friendly with Ukraine.
Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek – England U21 (10/11 (h) v Italy in Southampton and 14/11 (a) v France in Bondoufle) – Chalobah played the full match against Italy, and 81 minutes in the 3-2 defeat to France. Loftus-Cheek was an unused substitute against Italy but then had to withdraw from the squad after suffering a hamstring injury.
N’Golo Kante – France (11/11 (h) v Sweden in Paris and 15/11 (h) v Ivory Coast in Lens) – Limited to two minutes off the bench against Sweden, before playing the full 90 minutes against Ivory Coast.
John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses – Nigeria (12/11 (h) v Algeria in Uyo) – Mikel played 83 minutes, and scored in the 3-1 win. Moses played the full 90 minutes and scored twice in the impressive win.
Willian – Brazil (10/11 (h) v Argentina in Belo Horizonte and 16/11 (a) v Peru in Lima) – Was limited to just eight minutes off the bench in the 2-0 win over Peru.
Crystal Palace
None of Alan Pardew’s players logged too many minutes over the past 10 days, although Steve Mandanda has emerged as an injury concern after picking up a knee injury while on duty with France. Wayne Hennessey will be on standby should Mandanda be unavailable for Saturday’s home encounter with Man City.
Steve Mandanda – France (11/11 (h) v Sweden in Paris and 15/11 (h) v Ivory Coast in Lens) – Was an unused substitute against Sweden, and then picked up a knee injury.
Wayne Hennessey and Joe Ledley – Wales (12/11 (h) v Serbia in Cardiff) – Hennessey played the full match, while Ledley completed 84 minutes in the 1-1 draw.
James McArthur – Scotland (11/11 (a) v England in London) – Came on as a substitute, playing 24 minutes.
Chung-yong Lee – South Korea (11/11 (h) v Canada in Cheonan and 15/11 (h) v Uzbekistan in Seoul) – Didn’t feature in the first match, and was an unused substitute in the second.
Andros Townsend – England (11/11 (h) v Scotland in London and 15/11 (h) v Spain in London) – Limited to just 25 minutes as a substitute against Spain.
Christian Benteke – Belgium (09/11 (a) v Holland in Amsterdam and 13/11 (h) v Estonia in Brussels) – Was an unused substitute in both matches.
Everton
Ramiro Funes Mori, Bryan Oviedo and Enner Valencia all face long flights back to England ahead of Saturday’s home clash against Swansea City, so their preparation time will be limited.
Several of Ronald Koeman’s first choice players were involved for their countries over the past 10 days, so the Toffees medical team will be busy assessing their fitness as they return to Merseyside.
Maarten Stekelenburg – Holland (09/11 (h) v Belgium in Amsterdam and 13/11 (a) v Luxembourg in Luxembourg City) – 180 minutes.
Ashley Williams – Wales (12/11 (h) v Serbia in Cardiff) – 90 minutes.
Seamus Coleman – Republic of Ireland (12/11 (a) v Austria in Vienna) – 90 minutes.
Ramiro Funes Mori – Argentina (10/11 (a) v Brazil in Belo Horizonte and 15/11 (h) v Colombia in San Juan) – 180 minutes.
Phil Jagielka – England (11/11 (h) v Scotland in London and 15/11 (h) v Spain in London) – Limited to just 45 minutes off the bench in the 2-2 draw against Spain.
Bryan Oviedo – Costa Rica (11/11 (a) v Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain and 16/11 (h) v United States in San Jose) – Was an unused substitute in both matches.
Idrissa Gueye – Senegal (12/11 (a) v South Africa in Pietersburg) – 90 minutes.
Yannick Bolasie – DR Congo (13/11 (a) v Guinea in Conakry) – Played 78 minutes, and scored in the 2-1 win.
Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku – Belgium (09/11 (a) v Holland in Amsterdam and 13/11 (h) v Estonia in Brussels) – Mirallas was an unused substitute in the first match, but did play 17 minutes as a substitute in the 8-1 win over Estonia. Lukaku played 26 minutes off the bench in the 1-1 against Holland, before playing the full match against Estonia, scoring two goals and registering one assist.
Gerard Deulofeu – Spain U21 (11/11 (a) v Austria in St. Pölten and 15/11 (h) v Austria in Albacete) – Played 86 minutes in the first match, and scored a penalty in the 1-1 draw. Completed 89 minutes in the second match.
Enner Valencia – Ecuador (10/11 (a) v Uruguay in Montevideo and 15/11 (h) v Venezuela in Quito) – Didn’t feature in the first match, but registered a goal and an assist in the 3-0 win over Venezuela, playing the full 90 minutes.
Hull City
None of the Hull City players had particularly heavy workloads over the international break, so Mike Phelan will hope to have no issues surrounding his contingent ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sunderland.
David Marshall and Robert Snodgrass – Scotland (11/11 (a) v England in London) – Marshall was an unused substitute, while Snodgrass played 82 minutes before being replaced.
Ahmed Elmohamady – Egypt (13/11 (h) v Ghana in Borg El Arab) – Was an unused substitute.
David Meyler – Republic of Ireland (12/11 (a) v Austria in Vienna) – Came on as a substitute in place of the injured Glenn Whelan, playing 66 minutes.
Markus Henriksen and Adama Diomande – Norway (11/11 (a) v Czech Republic in Prague) – Henriksen played 61 minutes before being replaced by Diomande in the 2-1 defeat.
Dieumerci Mbokani – DR Congo (13/11 (a) v Guinea in Conakry) – 90 minutes.
Leicester City
Claudio Ranieri will have to check on the condition of Demarai Gray after the winger picked up a knock while playing for the England U21s.
The African players in the Foxes squad only featured on the weekend, so they should have returned to the club early this week, making their availability for Saturday’s trip to Watford more certain.
Andy King – Wales (12/11 (h) v Serbia in Cardiff) – Was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw.
Jeffrey Schlupp and Daniel Amartey – Ghana (13/11 (a) v Egypt in Borg El Arab) – Schlupp played 20 minutes as a substitute, while Amartey played the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 defeat.
Demarai Gray – England U21 (10/11 (h) v Italy in Southampton and 14/11 (a) v France in Bondoufle) – Scored the opening goal against Italy, but was forced off in the 72nd minute after picking up a knock. Subsequently didn’t feature in the 3-2 defeat to France.
Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani – Algeria (12/11 (a) v Nigeria in Uyo) – Both played the full 90 minutes in the 3-1 defeat, with Mahrez registering an assist.
Ahmed Musa – Nigeria (12/11 (h) v Algeria in Uyo) – Limited to just 15 minutes off the bench, but did provide an assist in the 3-1 win.
Shinji Okazaki – Japan (11/11 (h) v Oman in Kashima and 15/11 (h) v Saudi Arabia in Saitama) – Came on as a substitute in both matches, playing 30 minutes against Oman, and only a couple of minutes during stoppage time against Saudi Arabia.
Jamie Vardy – England (11/11 (h) v Scotland in London and 15/11 (h) v Spain in London) – Played 15 minutes off the bench against Scotland, and 67 minutes as a starter against Spain, scoring in the 2-2 draw.
Liverpool
Adam Lallana has emerged as a doubt for Saturday’s trip to his former club Southampton after picking up a knock during England’s 2-2 draw with Spain. The injury will be assessed when the midfielder returns to Liverpool, and while it isn’t thought to be a serious issue, the short turnaround makes him a doubt for the clash at St Mary’s.
Brazilian pair Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino face a long flight home, with Coutinho more at risk of being rested given his heavy workload, whereas Firmino only logged eight minutes.
Simon Mignolet and Divock Origi – Belgium (09/11 (a) v Holland in Amsterdam and 13/11 (h) v Estonia in Brussels) – Mignolet played the full match against Holland, but was an unused substitute against Estonia. Origi warmed the bench in both matches.
Ragnar Klavan – Estonia (13/11 (a) v Belgium in Brussels) – Played the full 90 minutes, and scored an own goal in the 8-1 defeat.
Nathaniel Clyne, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge – England (11/11 (h) v Scotland in London and 15/11 (h) v Spain in London) – Clyne was an unused substitute against Scotland, but played the full 90 minutes against Spain. Henderson played all 180 minutes, and registered an assist in the 2-2 draw with Spain. Lallana started both matches, playing the full 90 minutes against Scotland, where he scored in the 3-0 win. He then opened the scoring from the penalty spot against Spain, only to be forced off with a knock after 27 minutes. Sturridge played 75 minutes against Scotland, and scored the opening goal in the 3-0 win, but was then an unused substitute against Spain.
Georginio Wijnaldum – Holland (09/11 (h) v Belgium in Amsterdam and 13/11 (a) v Luxembourg in Luxembourg City) – Played 89 minutes against Belgium, and the full match in the 3-1 win over Luxembourg.
Marko Grujic – Serbia U21 (15/11 (a) v Norway in Drammen) – 90 minutes.
Sadio Mane – Senegal (12/11 (a) v South Africa in Pietersburg) – 90 minutes.
Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino – Brazil (10/11 (h) v Argentina in Belo Horizonte and 16/11 (a) v Peru in Lima) – Coutinho started both matches, playing 85 minutes in the 3-0 win over Argentina, where he scored the opening goal, while he completed 86 minutes against Peru. Firmino was limited to just eight minutes off the bench against Argentina.
Man City
City’s South American contingent face a long flight back to England before Saturday’s trip to Selhurst Park, although Sergio Aguero’s lack of action for Argentina increases the likelihood of him starting against Crystal Palace.
Fernandinho and Nicolas Otamendi did have heavy workloads, though, and could be more prone to rotation.
England pair John Stones and Raheem Sterling also featured prominently, while Ilkay Gundogan played all 180 minutes for Germany, perhaps putting him at slight risk for Saturday’s outing.
Claudio Bravo – Chile (10/11 (a) v Colombia in Barranquilla and 15/11 (h) v Uruguay in Santiago) – Started against Colombia, but was forced off after 64 minutes with a knock. Was fit enough to start against Uruguay, though, and completed the full 90 minutes in the 3-1 win.
Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Aguero – Argentina (10/11 (a) v Brazil in Belo Horizonte and 15/11 (h) v Colombia in San Juan) – Zabaleta played the full 90 minutes in the 3-0 defeat to Brazil, but was an unused substitute against Colombia. Otamendi played all 180 minutes, while Aguero only played 45 minutes, coming on as a half-time substitute against Brazil, before being an unused substitute against Colombia.
John Stones and Raheem Sterling – England (11/11 (h) v Scotland in London and 15/11 (h) v Spain in London) – Stones played all 180 minutes, while Sterling started both matches, playing the full 90 minutes against Scotland, and 65 minutes in the 2-2 draw with Spain.
Fernandinho – Brazil (10/11 (h) v Argentina in Belo Horizonte and 16/11 (a) v Peru in Lima) – 180 minutes.
Ilkay Gundogan – Germany (11/11 (a) v San Marino in Serravalle and 15/11 (a) v Italy in Milan) – Played all 180 minutes and registered an assist in the 8-0 victory over San Marino.
Kevin de Bruyne – Belgium (09/11 (a) v Holland in Amsterdam and 13/11 (h) v Estonia in Brussels) – Played 64 minutes in the friendly against Holland, before playing the full match against Estonia, registering an assist in the emphatic 8-1 victory.
David Silva and Nolito – Spain (12/11 (h) v Macedonia in Granada and 15/11 (a) v England in London) – Silva played the full 90 minutes in the 4-0 win over Macedonia, and registered an assist. He then started at Wembley but was withdrawn after 64 minutes. Nolito was limited to just 12 minutes off the bench against England.
Kelechi Iheanacho – Nigeria (12/11 (h) v Algeria in Uyo) – 90 minutes.
Part Two of International Minutes, detailing the remaining 10 teams, will be published tomorrow.
