Team News
26 February 2019 1777 comments
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We’re at the halfway point in our team news summaries for Gameweek 28, after ten Premier League press conferences were held on Monday.

The other ten are scheduled for either this morning or early afternoon, ahead of the Fantasy Premier League deadline at 18:45 this evening.

Things We’ve Learned

All of the “big six” managers will hold their pressers later today, so the information we have gathered so far may not quite pack the same punch as the injury news to follow at – for example – Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Ben Chilwell (knock) has been declared fully fit by interim Leicester City boss Mike Stowell ahead of the Foxes’ clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday night, with only long-term injury victims Marc Albrighton (hamstring) and Daniel Amartey (leg) unavailable for Gameweek 28.

There’ll be a great deal of interest in how Leicester’s Fantasy assets fare in their first match following Claude Puel’s departure, though Stowell suggested he wouldn’t be making wholesale changes when he leads the team out at the King Power Stadium:

Literally, we’ve had one training session with them because yesterday was a recovery day. We will tweak a few things here and there, but they’re not playing poorly, by the way.

Chris Hughton will make late checks on Glenn Murray (knock), Lewis Dunk (knock) and Jurgen Locadia (ankle), meanwhile, though Solly March (ankle) has been passed fit to play.

Leon Balogun (knock) remains out.

The Brighton boss said:

Balogun would be the only one that’s definitely not available. Glenn [was] introduced to training only the last day, Lewis Dunk as well, Izquierdo is back training. Solly’s trained the last few days, he’s fine. Jurgen’s trained only yesterday.

There was nothing new to report on Tyneside ahead of Newcastle v Burnley, with Rafael Benitez only without Rob Elliot (back) and Ciaran Clark (knock) for Tuesday’s match.

Sean Dyche added that the Clarets had come through their win over Spurs unscathed, so Steven Defour (calf), Aaron Lennon (knee) and Jon Walters (Achilles) remain his only absentees.

Nuno Espirito Santo also has a fully-fit squad to choose from, though his opposite number on Tuesday evening, Jan Siewert, reported a number of issues in his press conference.

The Huddersfield boss said:

Diakhaby’s still not available, unfortunately. I think it will take time. Isaac Mbenza is still injured and Danny Williams, of course. We have some small problems, but not as serious as those three.

Siewert said that he hoped Erik Durm (hip) will return, while Alex Pritchard is available after minor back problems.

Winston Reid (knee) and Fabian Balbuena (knee) have returned to training at West Ham United after their injury lay-offs but Manuel Pellegrini said on Monday that the pair had only participated in “part of the session” so they would appear unlikely to feature against Manchester City on Wednesday.

The Hammers’ boss also said that the club were being “careful” with Manuel Lanzini after the Argentinean’s recent comeback:

We must be careful with him. I think that he played 15 minutes [v Fulham] and he did very well. We will see which is the best way to give him more minutes in every game.

Kiko Femenia (hamstring) and Jose Holebas (suspended) are Watford’s only confirmed absentees for the trip to Anfield, though Javi Gracia said the former is closing in on a return:

In this moment we only have Kiko Femenia injured. He is training and today he trained with the team but he is not fit. He needs more time to stay in the best condition, but he’s the only player not available for the next game.

After a 17-day break, Everton are back in action this evening.

The Toffees are almost at full strength, with Marco Silva only having Yerry Mina (foot) to worry about from an injury point of view – though Kurt Zouma misses out through suspension.

Silva said:

Jags [Jagielka] is OK, working with the team since the break started. Leighton [Baines] also. Mina in doubt, worked last two days and will be in doubt until tomorrow. Let’s see after one more session.

The Toffees travel to Wales to play Cardiff on Tuesday evening, with Neil Warnock reporting that “one or two lads” had fallen victim to the same bug that caused Lee Peltier – who remains a minor doubt for Gameweek 28 – to miss the defeat to Watford on Friday.

Warnock also had plenty to say on Victor Camarasa (calf):

Victor’s training now so I don’t know really know about him. He’s looking on song, back to normal.

We think he’s closer to fitness than what his guys think, but then obviously you run the risk if you make him play and he breaks down, what are they going to say?

He obviously listens to his physios, medical people and Tom, Dick and Harry from abroad. I thought he was fit ten days ago, so they’ve said they don’t want him playing for ten days. So ten days is up today, I think.

MANAGERS YET TO DELIVER A PRESS CONFERENCE

Unai Emery (Arsenal)
Eddie Howe (Bournemouth)
Maurizio Sarri (Chelsea)
Roy Hodgson (Crystal Palace)
Claudio Ranieri (Fulham)
Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United)
Ralph Hasenhuttl (Southampton)
Mauricio Pochettino (Spurs)

INJURY NEWS THAT MAY BE UPDATED ON TUESDAY

  • Arsenal have doubts over Alex Iwobi (knock), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (illness) and Stephan Lichtsteiner (back).
  • Callum Wilson (knee) and David Brooks (ankle) are thought to be medium-term absentees for Bournemouth and are not currently scheduled to return till March.
  • Aaron Wan-Bissaka (hamstring) missed out on the win over Leicester City on Saturday, though no timeframe was put on the Palace right-back’s return.
  • Andre Schurrle missed Fulham’s defeat to West Ham United through illness.
  • Roberto Firmino (ankle) was seen leaving Old Trafford on crutches after sustaining an injury in the 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp said he had “no clue” about the severity of the problem after full-time of that match.
  • Gabriel Jesus (hamstring), John Stones (groin) and Benjamin Mendy (knee) missed the EFL Cup final but Pep Guardiola said all three were “getting better” in a previous press conference on Friday. Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho, who picked up muscle injuries on Sunday, are set to be out for “some weeks”, according to their manager.
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Sunday that he would be “maybe surprised” if Marcus Rashford (ankle) was fit to face Crystal Palace in midweek. Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Jesse Lingard all fell victim to hamstring injuries against Liverpool, while Anthony Martial (groin) wasn’t quite ready to feature.
  • Danny Ings (hamstring) is a major doubt for Southampton’s six-pointer against Fulham, while Michael Obafemi appeared to suffer a recurrence of his own hamstring problem in the defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
  • Mauricio Pochettino said last Thursday that Dele Alli (hamstring) was “maybe one week, maybe ten days, maybe two weeks” away from a playing return.

Predicted line-ups and in-depth team news on the ten teams who have held press conferences already can be found here.

  1. Simon69
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Will Chong be added to FPL seeing as how he's in the squad for MUFC? Fancy a mad punt.

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      As a Hudson odoi owner in week one I don't advise it...

      1. Simon69
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Ha! I still have him! Cheap bench fodder.

        1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Lost 0.3 on that guy! Finally got rid on wc. 16 weeks of hurt.

          1. Simon69
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Yeah I'm itching to pull the WC trigger to lose the deadwood.

    2. jia you
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Racist

      1. Simon69
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        You what mate?

        1. jia you
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          hehehe, tongue-in-cheek mate, glad all of those silly posts (just commenting 'racist') have stopped on here 😉

          1. jia you
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            on the matter itself, he's a great prospect, would love to see him get some game time!

  2. El-Kloppico
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Play one plz:

    a. Son
    b. Sterling
    c. Kolasinac

    1. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Do you think he'll play?

        1. drughi
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          No idea but benching him and then seeing him in the starting lineup is nothing I wanna be part of

          1. El-Kloppico
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            A cameo would be the worst case scenario.
            Coz the other 2 will surely play at least 60min.

            1. Shuko
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Well, it's still about points, not minutes. 😉

    2. Regin
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      i would find a way to play all 3, but b first priority i would say

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Guessing Mahrez and Sané to start on flanks. Jesus up. Saw the latter trained ok.

    3. Karan_G14
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        120min in his feet though.

    4. jia you
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Play all without a shadow of a doubt!

    5. Runaway
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      What kind of a selection is this, somewhere something should be wrong 🙂 I would play B btw.

      1. Runaway
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        because I would not expect a cameo unless they still struggle to score around 60-65 which highly unlikely

    6. No Kane No Gain
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      i couldn't sleep at night if i benched anyone of these 3. And if i benched B and sterling started that would be a travesty.

  3. Bob B
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Pick 3 to play:

    A. TAA (WAT)
    B. Bednarek (FUL)
    C. Yedlin (BUR)
    D. Digne (car)
    E. Doherty (hud)

    1. Karan_G14
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      AED

    2. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      A and E for sure then its tricky

    3. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Eda

    4. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      BDE unless clear that TAA won’t be a ten-minute sub, when play instead of B

      1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        I feel like taa wasn't played because he's not trusted in defence in big games. (and maybe what klopp said about fitness). Fully expect him to play.

    5. El-Kloppico
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      ACD

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Sorry ADE.

        1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Skloppy of you

    6. Runaway
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      ADE

  4. Tambling5
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Who to play this week?
    (one of three)
    A.Shaw,
    B Schar,
    C Bednarek
    Thank you

    1. SUPER 11
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Schar

  5. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts?

    Foster
    Robbo Digne Doherty
    Salah Son Pogba Rich
    Aguero *Rash* Jimenez

    Begovic Bennett Westwood AWB. 2ft 2.6m itb.

    Rash out to Barnes, Rondon or Vardy?

    Can also do Son-> Mane but not sure

    1. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Vardy best chance of two or three goals

  6. Tmel
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Ederson
    TAA Robertson Doherty Jonny
    Pogba Salah Sterling Son
    Jimenez Rash
    (Guaita Fanderson AWB Kamara)

    a) Kamara > Barnes
    b) Kamara > Rondon
    c) Rash > Vardy

    1. zakard
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      C

  7. pjomara
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    1. Play (a) Pereira (BHA) or (c) Bednarek (FUL)?
    2. For MID/FW of:
    Salah, Pogba, Jota, Son, Sterling
    Rondon, Jimenez, Laca
    I should bench Jota, right? Between him and Son really.

    1. MTPockets
        7 years, 3 months ago

        pereira
        guess so

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Liverpool fan on twitter:
      GW37. Brendan Rodgers masterclass as Man City drop points against Leicester and Liverpool seal the title to put the ghost of Crystanbul to bed 😀 imagine

      1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        City will already have won the league by then. ;p

      2. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Liverpool should focus on winning their own games, they could have had the title pretty much wrapped up but fell into Pep's trap 🙂

    3. micsway
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Anyone ever come across this before?

      My mate did a transfer (brought in Kun) then did a free hit.

      After the game week ended, his team reverted to be Kun transfer.

      Is this correct? or a bug in the system? My mate is fuming and expected he would still have Kun in his team.

      1. micsway
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        that's pre Kun transfer, so Kun is no longer in his team.

      2. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        That's how it works. No transfer in a fh.

      3. SADIO SANÉ
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        no that is correct

      4. Eytexi
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        That's correct and the way it should work. Free hit cancels transfers.

      5. Fitzy.
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        That's how the chip works, and always has. He should read the rules.

      6. MTPockets
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Correct. Caused some consternation last season

        • Warby84
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          All pre free hit transfers are cancelled

        • pjomara
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          If he did the Kun transfer the week before, he would still be in his team, if that's any use to him. Tell him. He'll be delighted.

      7. milanista10
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Would you lads do Rashford to Jimenez for free? Bednarek would come on if Rash misses out!

        1. MTPockets
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Yes - Jimenez or someone else

        2. Iggypop
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Picking auba over aguero few weeks ago has ruined my season but I still have auba in over aguero this gw!

        3. bhh
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Bench Issues: Pick 1 to bench
          Digne (CAR)
          Yedlin (BUR)
          Bennett (hud)
          Siggy (CAR)

        4. Louis Van Gaalstones
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Shaw or Anderson to start?

        5. TeddiPonza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          What to do with Laporte and Rashford?

          A. Laporte to TAA (and play Felipe for Rashford)
          B. Laporte and Rash to Clyne and Vardy (-4). Would bench Clyne for 28 and 29 as I have a good defensive cover
          C. Save transfer and play Bennett and Felipe for Laporte and Rash.

          Thanks.

          1. bhh
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Not B (no point taking a -4 hit if you're going to be benching the guy anyway)
            Probably go for C. Bennett looks for good for a clean sheet this week given Huddersfield don't (usually) score

        6. IRBOX ⚽
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Good to go? Won’t have time to tinker from here on..

          Fabianski
          Robbo TAA Doherty Digne
          Salah (c) Pogba Son
          Aubameyang Vardy Jimenez

          Button Bennett Felipe Højbjerg

          1. avfc82
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 16 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Looks good. I'd be tempted to make Felipe first sub though.

            Wolves haven't kept a clean sheet away from home in the league for a long time, and with Felipe up against a tired City, probably without Laporte and Fernandinho, he could return.

            1. IRBOX ⚽
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Good point, cheers mate! Best of luck this GW

        7. Mo Mané Mo Problems
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Hopefully Rashford will go to red flag.

          He'll overshoot the threshold for a drop by miles. 0.1 loss doesn't lose value for me. So it's another 100% after that before I lose value. Might not even happen by Friday.

          1. Karan_G14
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            He won’t be red flagged because OGS hasn’t ruled him out.

        8. Champions united
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Bottomed

          Whom. To shipout from my team
          2.0ITB AND 1 FT
          Will. Try to bring player kepping 31 in mind and wil use FH in 32

          fab
          Kola taa doherty
          Pogba salah sane son
          Rondon auba jimnzy,

          1. tokara
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            save

          2. bhh
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Depending on how much it would cost to replace him, I'd ship Doherty for a Bournmouth or Burnley player (probably around GW30.) May also want to switch Jimenez for Barnes. Probably try to double up Liverpool midfielders (thinking Sane to Mane)

            1. Champions united
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Thanks for the suggestion

        9. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Rashford to Vardy for a FT?

          1. Eytexi
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Yep, did it myself.

        10. VaVaVoom
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Defence issues this week.

          Doherty, Robertson, David Luiz. WanB + Holobas out

          A. Play Luiz
          B. Holobas > Bamba
          C. DLuiz > TAA
          D. DLuiz > Digne

          E. Other?

          1. bhh
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            I'd go for Holebas to a defender who plays in GW31

            1. VaVaVoom
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Looking at :Lasscelles or Tarkowski

        11. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Current team to play:
          Allison
          Robertson, Doherty, Kolasinac
          Son, Pogba, Salah (C), Redmond
          Auba, Jimenez, Rondón
          Bench: Digne, Fanderson, Wan-B

          Currently have 1.0M ITB and 1FT.
          Any changes needed? Thanks

        12. jia you
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          I think this place has gone officially mad! Several poster's asking whether they should bench Doherty v the worst team in the league, loads more tearing their hair out over the great Barnes v Rondon debate 😉

          1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            When it's all about arnie anyway.

          2. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Barnes v Rondon is so bizarre.
            I somehow have a front three of Jiminez, Rondon, Mitrovic.

            Never ever restructuring my team to go without a premium striker again

          3. Kiwivillan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Barnes and Rondon is last week's Fanderson.

            1. jia you
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              stenches of it, ah things will go back to normal in due course when real assets like Kane & Hazard will be back on the radar

        13. Tsssst
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Kun to Auba worth a FT this gameweek?

          Kun's not gonna get 90 is he and Auba must be starting.

          1. Kiwivillan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            I'll laugh if it backfires

        14. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Brendan to have a similar impact on Leicester City, as Ole has had on Utd? i'm not expecting them to go on a similar run but the power of confidence on their main players could lead to a lot of fpl points.

          1. Eytexi
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Leicester triple-up here shows my opinion.

          2. bhh
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Unlike UTD when I already had Rash before Ole came in, I think I'll wait and see if Leicester are going to have a similar turnaround. May only wait a week or so but I'm not jumping in just yet

        15. Holding Mee Bong
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Glad I held Rashy

          As for Rashy [Marcus Rashford], we're going to work on him for as long as we can to see if he gets ready because that wasn't as bad as we first feared, so luckily I don't think we damaged it any more by him finishing the game.

          ”He might have a chance of playing. Then again I don't think there'll be anyone else coming back for this game. So there'll be a chance for the kids

          1. avfc82
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 16 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Just seem this on the official site, sounds like he has a chance.

          2. jia you
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            don't see Ole risking him tbh

            1. internal error
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Problem is that he might feel the need to, with so many other players out injured. Palace in form so not to be underestimated

              1. avfc82
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 16 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                I agree. PL is the priority for United now, if he is close to full fitness he'll play, who else is there to operate across the front 3? Alexis, Lukaku... ? Chong won't start.

            2. AuFeld
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              I don't think he wants to repeat his Lingard mistake.

            3. Holding Mee Bong
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              He might not risk him this week but that’s fine, that’s what a good bench is for!

        16. Scotty Dog
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Morning all,
          Please help in a right pickle here I am very worried about gw's 31 & 32 as I have no fh or WC. Any suggestions on my current team:-

          Etheridge boruc
          Bed awb taa Doherty simp
          Son pogba almiron dendon Salah
          Jim rash aguero
          Bank 2.7

          I really want to go son>sterling & rash > rondon, but this is not improving my team for the blank and double gw? Any suggestions much appreciated

        17. tisza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          any thoughts on Hazard?
          Looked good on Sunday but if he's back in the false 9 is it the same situation as before when he looks good as a player but limited as an FPL asset?
          Thinking of Son and Rashford to Barnes and Hazard. (with GW31 in mind as well)

        18. Holteenderinthesky
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Current team 1FT, 2.7ITB

          Alisson
          Kola, Doherty, Digne,
          Salah(C), Pogba, Son, H.Barnes.
          Aguero, Rashford, Jimenez.

          Speroni, Anderson, Schindler, WB.

          Who to transfer first?
          A) Rashford>Vardy
          B) WB>Robertson

          Im leaning towards Rashford>Vardy because I don't see aguero starting.

        19. Greko82
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          A) Shaw Clean Sheet
          Or
          B) Bennett Clean Sheet

          United has too many injuries and Huddersfield can’t score..

          Please help

          1. JBG
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            United has the same defence and midfield as they had against Pool, but yeah I'm kinda in the same boat. Lindelof or Doherty :/.

        20. Atimis
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Pool def in for a hit?
          Lot of $ ITB

          Fab
          Pereira/Doherty/Shaw
          Salah/Mane/Pogba/Son
          Kun/Barnes/Jimenez

          Hart/Bednarek/Puncheon/WB

          1. bhh
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            If you can ship Bednarek for a Pool defender than get that sorted ASAP (Southampton's favourable fixtures dive after GW29)

        21. Tsssst
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          A. TAA back from injury to play Watford
          or
          B. Periera with the shackles off Home to Brighton