The Treatment Table – Gameweek 28

Harry Kane limps out of Spurs’ FA Cup win over Millwall with an ankle injury that may well shape many Fantasy managers’ plans for the run-in. Fernando Llorente is forced off during Swansea City’s loss at Hull City, while Everton’s Leighton Baines is replaced at the break against West Brom due to a back problem.

Here’s the latest from around the club treatment rooms following Satuday’s league and cup action.

Harry Kane, Mousa Dembele

Fantasy managers are patiently awaiting news on the ankle problem that forced Harry Kane to limp out of Spurs’ 6-0 FA Cup win over Millwall, with the striker reportedly set for scans today.

Worryingly, Kane missed five Gameweeks of the season with a similar injury and Mauricio Pochettino’s post-match comments were hardly optimistic after his star asset lasted ten minutes at the Lane on Sunday afternoon:

“He twists his ankle – the same ankle as it was before against Sunderland. Now we will wait and assess tomorrow and wait and see. Today it’s difficult. It’s a similar situation to Sunderland. We need to assess him today it is difficult to give you a real level of how he is. We hope it’s not a big issue, but it looks similar. It’s sure it will be difficult for him to play against Southampton but we need to see what happens in the next few days. Every time something like this happens and before the scan, he immobilises with a [protective] boot.”

Prior to sustaining his injury, Kane had already been acquired by 34,000+ FPL managers in the 24 hours after Saturday’s deadline had passed – a sign of our collective faith in light of 12 goals and three assists in his previous ten Gameweek appearances.

Since then, he’s been sold by over 80,000 – more than any player – with 29,000+ turning to Diego Costa and 22,000+ opting for Romelu Lukaku.

With Burnley, Swansea, Watford, Bournemouth and Leicester City in the subsequent five, investment in Pochettino’s regulars is set to pick up pace, though Kane’s expected absence is likely to drive our attentions to midfield instead, with Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli the most secure picks if Spurs continue with their 3-4-2-1 set-up.

A potential stint on the sidelines for Kane could also promote the appeal of Son Heung-min, though. Pochettino seems unconvinced over Vincent Janssen’s ability to lead the line and, after supplying three goals and an assist against Millwall, Son – at 6.9 – could emerge as a viable option if he can cement a starting spot in Kane’s possible absence.

Dembele also sustained an ankle problem prior to the match, allowing Harry Winks to partner Victor Wanyama in the centre of the park. With a single assist to his name this term, it’s fair to say that the Belgian has been a peripheral figure at best, with Eriksen and Alli – who both found the net last weekend – both sitting amongst the top five FPL midfielders ahead of that fine upcoming schedule.

Fernando Llorente, Martin Olsson, Angel Rangel

Swansea were hit by injuries at both ends of the pitch during Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Hull, as Paul Clement explained:

“Llorente has a dead leg, Angel Rangel has an injury to his foot or ankle. Martin Olsson has a contact injury on his ankle. I would have taken him off if I had a substitution left. We hope it will not keep him out for too long.”

Llorente’s withdrawal just before the break was a bitter blow to both Swansea and FPL managers alike. The Spaniard was drafted in by over 378,000 for the reduced Gameweek, with a brace against Burnley in the previous league encounter taking his tally to five goals in six prior to the KCOM Stadium clash.

With back-to-back clashes against Bournemouth and Middlesbrough, though, Llorente’s 13.9% owners will be keen to hold if he can recover in time, though many have had enough – over 55,000 have already sold the target man since the weekend deadline.

Olsson was snapped up by 52,000+ new owner last week, having netted twice in his previous three league outings. The Swede was overshadowed by defensive team-mate Alfie Mawson once again, though, after the centre-back netted his fourth goal under Clement by grabbing a late consolation against the Tigers.

Clement also has growing concerns on the other side of defence after Rangel joined Kyle Naughton on the sidelines. With the Spaniard now expected to be ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken metatarsal, Clement could be forced to utilising Jordi Amat as an emergency right-back for the Bournemouth encounter if Naughton fails to recover.

Leighton Baines, James McCarthy

In a Gameweek where Everton were the only side to chalk up a clean sheet, Leighton Baines’ owners were left frustrated after he was replaced at the break against West Brom due to a back injury. Manager Ronald Koeman made it clear that he had no option but to replace full-back.

“Leighton had a problem with his back, he couldn’t move anymore, that was the reason we had to change Leighton.”

While those holding the left-back were left with no more than a single-point return, Seamus Coleman yet again produced the goods to climb into joint-top spot amongst FPL defenders.

The right-back has served up attacking or defensive returns in eight of the last nine Gameweeks and with home encounters against Hull, Leicester and Burnley in the next five, he’s the second most transferred in defender since the weekend deadline passed.

Koeman seemed positive and definite on Baines’ availability for the visit of Hull City, though should he miss out, Ramiro Funes Mori could make a return to the XI: the Argentine’s run of eight straight starts came to an end as he was replaced by Phil Jagielka against the Baggies. Over 20,000 FPL managers have already sold Baines as a result of his early withdrawal – almost three times the number of any other defender.

McCarthy, meanwhile, is set for a further stint on the sidelines with another recurrence of an ongoing hamstring complaint. With just seven starts to his name all season, it’s fair to say that the Scot has failed to impress under Koeman, with the likes of Idrissa Gueye, Morgan Schneiderlin and Tom Davies seemingly ahead in the central midfield pecking order.

Robert Snodgrass, Michail Antonio

The West Ham midfielder was named among the substitutes away to Bournemouth on Saturday after requiring ten stitches in a knee injury sustained against Chelsea in the previous Gameweek.

In light of their 3-2 loss at the Vitality, Snodgrass admitted he picked up a further problem after emerging from the bench against Eddie Howe’s side:

“I twisted my ankle and stretched my ligaments, but we only had defenders and a centre midfielder on the bench, so you have to try to push through that pain barrier for your teammates. But I couldn’t really push off with any force.”

It’s been a slow start to life at West Ham for the Scot, who has managed just one assist in six appearances. Still owned by 11.8% of FPL managers, it seems he’s now battling Manuel Lanzini and Sofiane Feghouli for the wide roles, with Michail Antonio returning from suspension to partner Andy Carroll up top last weekend.

Snodgrass at least managed to finish the match, though, and with clashes against Leicester, Hull, Swansea and Sunderland in the next five, the schedule is still very much in his favour if he can fully recover and return to Slaven Bilic’s first XI for the run-in.

Antonio suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat but, like Snodgrass, completed the match. Post-match, the player offered a definite response on his availability for the Gameweek 29 visit of Leicester City and, as yet, there is no suggestion that Antonio is at risk of missing Saturday’s encounter.

Victor Moses

The Chelsea wing-back is an early doubt for this weekend’s trip to Stoke after being forced off towards the end of Monday’s FA Cup win over Manchester United.

A regular under Antonio Conte, Moses’ potential absence could see either Pedro or Willian utilised as a direct replacement on the right of the Blues’ midfield four at the bet365.

Pedro has provided two goals and a pair of assists in his last three league appearances and is the fourth most transferred in midfielder ahead of the Gameweek, with over 20,000 new owners.

An unused sub in last night’s 1-0 win, with Willian handed the role on the right of the front three, the 9%-owned Pedro is expected to return to the starting XI against the Potters, yet his versatility could see the former Barca man drop into a more withdrawn role should Moses be ruled out.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, David Ospina

Ospina missed the FA Cup win over Lincoln due to a groin problem, while Oxlade-Chamberlain lasted less than half an hour before being forced off.

Arsene Wenger was somewhat vague in his assessment
of the England international’s withdrawal:

“Hamstring. I don’t know [how serious], we have to assess it. It didn’t look a big one”.

Having started each of the last four league matches, Oxlade-Chamberlain seemed to have finally climbed the pecking order in recent weeks. Given that Arsenal still have two outstanding fixtures to be rescheduled, FPL interest in their attack is bound to be on the rise once the doubles are confirmed, with some even looking for a partner option alongside Alexis Sanchez.

Nonetheless, without a goal or assist since Gameweek 15, the former Saint faces a tough task to persuade us he’s worthy of any investment. All the more so given that the similarly priced Alex Iwobi – at 5.7 to 5.8 – has bagged three goals and two assists over that period and has been named in Arsene Wenger’s first XI in each of the last ten rounds of fixtures.

Rudy Gestede, Bernardo

Middlesbrough’s problems at both ends of the pitch continued last Saturday after Gestede and Bernardo limped off during the FA Cup loss to Man City.

With his side scoring twice in their last eight league matches, Aitor Karanka handed Gestede his first 90 minutes since arriving during the winter transfer window in the Gameweek 27 loss to Stoke. This saw the 10%-owned Alvaro Negredo warm the bench from start to finish and the Spaniard was also amongst the substitutes against City until Gestede’s injury allowed him the chance of pitch time.

Bernardo, meanwhile, had started each of the last seven league matches, helping the Teesside team chalk up two clean sheets over that period.

With the likes of Calum Chambers, George Friend and Daniel Ayala also injury concerns, Bernardo’s potential absence would further limit Karanka’s options ahead of Sunday’s upcoming visit from Man United.

Nampalys Mendy

The Leicester City midfielder is set to miss this evening’s Champions League clash with Sevilla due to a knee problem.

Mendy has a chance of making the weekend trip to West Ham as the Foxes seek a third straight league win since the departure of Claudio Ranieri. Nonetheless, it’s fair to say that new signing Wilfred Ndidi has been quick to establish himself as the preferred partner to Danny Drinkwater in the centre of the park.

Impressively, since making his debut in Gameweek 21, Ndidi’s total of 14 attempts on goal is more than any team-mate, while only Jamie Vardy has bettered his efforts inside the box, by nine to eight. Having earned an assist in the recent win over Hull, the Nigerian – at 4.9 – could emerge as a surprise budget differential if he can translate those recent numbers into Fantasy returns.

Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney

Both players missed last night’s cup loss at Chelsea due to injury, with Marcus Rashford recovering from illness to lead the line in the absence of the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

While Rooney has remained a peripheral figure under Jose Mourinho, Martial had hinted that he was set to nail down a regular role – the Frenchman started each of the last two league matches, bagging a goal and assist against Watford in Gameweek 25.

Clearly, with 12 fixtures still to play in the final ten Gameweeks, Mourinho’s men are sure to play a part in our planning further down the line.

With Ibrahimovic still banned for the next two league matches against Middlesbrough and West Brom, Rashford could appeal as a short-term option for out three-man frontlines, but it remains to be seen whether he can retain that role once Jose Mourinho has a full quota of players available for the run-in.

Harry Arter

The Bournemouth midfielder is set for scans on a calf complaint picked up during the weekend win over West Ham, according to the local press.

With Andrew Surman back in contention following a one-match ban, Eddie Howe has more options at his disposal this time around ahead of a clash with Swansea.

The Cherries’ boss could also recall Jack Wilshere, who has been omitted from the teamsheet in each of the last two league outings, with the Arsenal loanee afforded just six minutes off the bench against the Hammers.

When it comes to the Bournemouth midfield, though, it’s all about hat-trick hero Josh King, who has now scored seven times in the last five Gameweeks.

The Norwegian has been snapped up by 72,000 FPL managers already since Saturday – more than any other player – though once this week’s clash with the Swans has passed, the schedule is far from kind, with the Vitality side then set to face Southampton, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs in successive Gameweeks.

Dejan Lovren

The Liverpool defender miss Sunday’s home match against Burnley due to a back problem but was passed fit enough to be handed a 75-minute run-out for the reserves last night.

Lovren has now missed the last five Gameweeks, with Jurgen Klopp recently turning to the likes of Lucas Leiva and Ragnar Klavan as partners for Joel Matip in the heart of his defence.

With just a single clean sheet in nine, though, the Merseysiders have done little to persuade us they are worthy of investment in defence. Up next, a trip to the Etihad to face Man City could well see the Croatian fast-tracked into the first XI as Klopp looks to curtail Sergio Aguero and co.