Dugout Discussion

West Ham v Sunderland team news: Xhaka ruled out

24 January 2026 620 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

Before the rumoured bedlam that will erupt with the release of the Manchester City teamsheet, we’ve got a more low-key start to Gameweek 23.

West Ham United v Sunderland gets us underway at 12.30pm GMT.

TEAM NEWS

The team news is fairly straightforward in east London, with West Ham unsurprisingly unchanged from their 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

El Hadji Malick Diouf has returned from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) but has to settle for a place on the bench. Ollie Scarles keeps his place at left-back.

Lucas Paqueta‘s absence was confirmed by Nuno Espirito Santo on Thursday.

Something that Regis Le Bris didn’t do on the same day was divulge information about Granit Xhaka.

The Swiss international, one of just four Fantasy midfielders who were ever-present starters this season, misses out through injury.

Eliezer Mayenda takes his place.

That’s the only change from Gameweek 22.

The Black Cats have two of their own returning AFCON representatives on the bench, namely Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi.

The Gameweek 23 matches are a re-run of the opening weekend of the season. In the reverse fixture of this encounter, Sunderland beat West Ham 3-0 on Wearside.

LINE-UPS

West Ham XI: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Mavropanos, Scarles, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Pablo, Summerville, Castellanos.

Subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Ward-Prowse, Wilson, Diouf, Magassa, Potts, Kante.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo, Hume, Sadiki, Le Fee, Mundle, Mayenda, Brobbey.

Subs: Patterson, O’Nien, Geertruida, Cirkin, Rigg, Diarra, Adingra, Isidor, Talbi.

620 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Bowen beaut!

    Open Controls
  2. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    5 FTs.

    DCL > Kroupi
    Foden > Bruno
    Minteh > Rice
    Virgil > Chalobah
    Konsa > Alderete

    With 0.1 to spare...

    Open Controls
    1. Admiral Benson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Mane over Kroupi in case they get a double in GW26?

      Open Controls
      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 20 days ago

        Yes

        Open Controls
      2. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        2 months, 20 days ago

        Oooh yeah

        Open Controls
      3. The-Red-1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 20 days ago

        Yes but one will be against Arsenal.
        A sgw player might do better than his double!

        Open Controls
        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 20 days ago

          They struggled against Wolves last time

          Open Controls
  3. iFash@FPL
    • 2 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Interesting!
    Who would have thought of the Xhaka effect on Sunderland?

    Open Controls
    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      They are much better at home than away also.

      Open Controls
      1. iFash@FPL
        • 2 Years
        2 months, 20 days ago

        True that! Just wasn’t expecting this much difference to WHU.

        Open Controls
  4. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Get that 3 pointer Alderete

    Open Controls
  5. F4L
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    read an article not too long ago about the 3 biggest over/under performers. biggest underperformer was wolves, over was sunderland and villa. regression to the mean already started for all 3?

    Open Controls
  6. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    https://x.com/i/status/2015052747716923617

    Is he starting?

    Open Controls
    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Could be

      Open Controls
    2. OneTeamInBristol
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      No, Sunderland are losing 3-0. Thats the reference.

      Open Controls
      1. The Philosopher
        • 5 Years
        2 months, 20 days ago

        Internet has wasted these kids thinking capacities.

        Open Controls
    3. Voronins Pony Tail
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Find out soon

      Open Controls
      1. OneTeamInBristol
        • 2 Years
        2 months, 20 days ago

        Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly, Rodrigo, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Semenyo, Cherki, Marmoush

        Open Controls
    4. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      You just added 2 + 2 and got "yellow"

      Open Controls
  7. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly, Rodrigo, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Semenyo, Cherki, Marmoush

    Open Controls
    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Awesome

      Open Controls
    2. Admiral Benson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Phew

      Open Controls
    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Oh dear

      Open Controls
    4. OneTeamInBristol
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Now for Haaland to come on at 90, score three own goals and get booked!

      Open Controls
    5. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Well at least O'Reilly starts

      Open Controls
    6. F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      cheers

      thats a good enough defence and mid to keep a clean sheet. please donnarumma 🙂

      Open Controls
    7. Voronins Pony Tail
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Big day for my guy Cherki

      Open Controls
    8. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Embarrassing

      Open Controls
    9. Zilla
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      SUBS | Trafford, Ake, Haaland, Doku, Ait-Nouri, Foden, Mukasa, Alleyne, Lewis

      Open Controls
    10. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Reijnders to steal the show

      Open Controls
    11. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Sucks. I was busy this morning doing Dad stuff. Missed the leaks and now all the ITK ppl have sold Foden for Bruno and captained someone else than Haaland.
      Advantage everyone else. 🙁

      Open Controls
  8. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    This feels like one of those weeks where Haaland comes on at half time and scores a hatrick.

    Open Controls
    1. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Hope so
      And foden at least comes off and matches whoever people got for him!

      Open Controls
    2. threeputt
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      I expect if they're 2 or 3 up at a half time he won't get a sniff

      Open Controls
    3. Ninja Škrtel
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      nah

      Open Controls
    4. Under my Cucurella
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Hope not, everyone above me has capped him and I've gone Thiago. I did start him though so coming on for a small return would be nice

      Open Controls
    5. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      As long as it isnt Foden.

      Open Controls
    6. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      I pray for this as someone who set my team up yesterday, before everyone had leaks

      Open Controls
  9. threeputt
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    2 down & a (c) already then

    Open Controls
  10. Ninja Škrtel
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    HAALAND BENCHED!! SEMENYO CAPTAIN LETS GO!

    Open Controls
  11. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    XI | Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Semenyo, Cherki, Marmoush

    SUBS | Trafford, Ake, Haaland, Doku, Ait-Nouri, Foden, Mukasa, Alleyne, Lewis

    Just one change for Wolves with Arias returning

    Markups to pull up on the 4th minute for sure

    Open Controls
    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      *Marmoush

      Open Controls
  12. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Semenyo, Cherki and Reijnders, LET’S GO!!!

    Open Controls
    1. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      FH?

      Open Controls
      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 20 days ago

        Sun

        Open Controls
        1. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 20 days ago

          And yes owed all already when Sem was at Bournemouth

          Open Controls
  13. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Feck Haaland benched then. Time to go back to bed.

    Open Controls
  14. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Alderete first on my bench.

    Hope Haaland comes off the bench.

    Open Controls
    1. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      same

      Open Controls
  15. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    I have double City defense this week and neither of them is O'Reilly. Strange week.

    Thiaw first sub with Haaland starting. Maybe I should've benched Haaland...

    Open Controls
    1. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      I'm already happy I benched Alderete for Thiaw at this point. No city defender. Nice for you Nunes is back!

      Open Controls
  16. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Just came to witness the carnage lol

    Open Controls
    1. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      ragebait 😀

      Open Controls
  17. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    The leak is right

    Open Controls
  18. Wheato182
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Really hope Haaland stays on the bench today, have Bowen as my first sub

    Open Controls
    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Probably won’t

      Open Controls
    2. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      I kind of do too, because have Saka (vc) and happy to get Andersen off the bench

      Open Controls
  19. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    I'm glad Reijnders starts.

    Open Controls
  20. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Hope it backfires on pep !

    Open Controls
    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      They've not won a league game since we were having leftover turkey butties for lunch - this is a free hit for him

      Open Controls
  21. F4L
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    vdv at left back?

    Open Controls
  22. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Is that a save?

    Open Controls
  23. Amartey Partey
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Wolves to score first?

    Open Controls
    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      To win would be great

      Open Controls
      1. Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 20 days ago

        Let's face it, you could have 5 City and still enjoy them getting beaten by Wolves

        Open Controls
  24. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Imagine the raw unadulterated SCENEAGE if Marmoush got injured in the warm up

    Open Controls
    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      That would be epic on here

      Open Controls
  25. F4L
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    iwobi cm, fulham team looking good again

    Open Controls
  26. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Goal

    Sunderland

    Open Controls
  27. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    What a goal

    Open Controls
    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Who scored it?

      I'm watching Huddersfield Town v Bradford City which is dismal so far

      Open Controls
  28. Sgt. Schultz
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Mukiel A
    Brobbey G

    Open Controls
  29. F4L
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    brobbey g
    mukiele a

    Open Controls
  30. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 20 days ago

    Brobbey G
    Muki A

    Open Controls
    1. iFash@FPL
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 20 days ago

      Muks IS a legend!!

      Open Controls

You need to be logged in to post a comment.