Alexis Sanchez returns to training, Irish injuries could have an impact on Joe Allen’s Stoke City role, and further influences from the West Brom camp are at the top of the agenda from Saturday’s international matches. Here’s the pick of the stories from a busy day in Europe, Africa and beyond.
The major news of the latest round of international fixtures took place off the pitch as Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez (11.3) resumed training following a hamstring scare.
The 23.5%-owned midfielder missed Chile’s goalless draw in Colombia on Thursday and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger stirred up a classic club-versus-country row when he suggested it would be ‘suicidal’ for his man to be risked in Tuesday’s match against Uruguay.
Both Wenger and Sanchez’s small army of Fantasy Premier League managers must now wait for the Chilean FA’s next move.
Manchester City keeper Claudio Bravo (5.5), who suffered an injury in the Colombia clash, has also returned to training.
Austria 0 Republic of Ireland 1
West Brom completed an impressive Irish double when James McClean (5.0) scored the winner for the Republic in Austria.
The Baggies winger’s goal came the day after Northern Ireland had a raft of West Brom players to thank for their victory over Azerbaijan.
It wasn’t all wine and roses for Tony Pulis, however. McClean played despite suffering from a back issue, limped off in the latter stages and remains a concern for West Brom’s home match with Burnley in Gameweek 12.
Stoke City’s Glenn Whelan (4.4), meanwhile, might miss the visit of AFC Bournemouth after sustaining a hamstring injury.
That could have a domino effect on the Potters team sheet. With Whelan a doubt and Geoff Cameron (4.4) still struggling due to a knee problem, Mark Hughes has limited options in the two deep-lying midfield roles.
Joe Allen (5.4) will inevitably be a strong candidate to drop back from his No 10 role, particularly as Hughes has been happy to talk up Bojan’s (5.6) attacking credentials, as our most recent Say What article highlighted.
A reduction in Allen’s attacking potential would be bad news for the 18.4% of FPL managers currently backing the Welshman to take advantage of Bournemouth’s poor record on the road.
Team-mate Marko Arnautovic (7.2) played the full 90 minutes for Austria, while Tottenham’s Kevin Wimmer (4.6) was substituted after 78 minutes. Harry Arter (5.0) made his first competitive start for the Republic.
Austria play again, against Slovakia, in a friendly on Tuesday.
Rep of Ireland XI: Randolph; Coleman, Duffy, Clark, Brady, Whelan (Meyler 22) Hendrick, Arter, Hoolahan (McGoldrick 78), McClean (McGeady 85), Walters.
Wales 1 Serbia 1
While Ireland flourished, Wales faltered, although the West Brom connection was still very much to the fore.
Hal Robson-Kanu (5.0) set up Gareth Bale for the Welsh goal, but the hosts succumbed to a late equaliser in a fractious encounter that left Dusan Tadic (7.2) with a bloody nose. He will now be a doubt to feature for Southampton against Liverpool, although Serbia travel to face Ukraine for a friendly before that, so an update on his prognosis seems likely.
Wales manager Chris Coleman switched formation from 5-3-2 to a 4-2-3-1, with recalls for Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey (7.6), Joe Allen and Robson-Kanu.
Chelsea duo Nemanja Matic (5.1) and Branislav Ivanovic (5.8) started for Serbia. Aleksandar Kolarov (5.8) was suspended.
Wales XI: Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Taylor, Allen, Ledley (Edwards 84), Bale, Ramsey, Robson-Kanu (Lawrence 68), Vokes.
Elsewhere in Europe, Nacho Monreal (5.9) scored his first-ever international goal as Spain cantered to a 4-0 victory over Macedonia, whilst captain David Silva (8.7) chipped in with an assist.
The Spain XI also included David De Gea (5.5) in goal. Cesar Azpilicueta (6.1), Juan Mata (7.4), Ander Herrera (6.3) and Nolito (8.7) were all unused subs but could see some action in Tuesday night’s friendly with England.
Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.2) and Burnley’s Johann Berg Gudmundsson (5.1) both got the full 90 minutes as Iceland lost 2-0 in Croatia, while West Ham striker Simone Zaza’s (6.4) season to forget continued as he watched Italy’s 4-0 win over Liechtenstein from the bench.
Iceland will hope for better things from a Tuesday friendly in Malta, while Italy take on Germany.
Nigeria 3 Algeria 1
The stock of Victor Moses (5.6) continues to rise.
The Chelsea man has started the last five matches at wing back for the Blues and prospered in a more advanced role for Nigeria, scoring twice as the Super Eagles continued their perfect start to World Cup qualifying.
Teammate John Obi Mikel (4.4) claimed the other goal.
Kelechi Iheanacho (6.8) and Alex Iwobi (5.8) also started for the hosts, with the latter replaced by Leicester’s Ahmed Musa (7.0) for the final 15 minutes.
The Leicester City pair of Riyad Mahrez (9.1) and Islami Slimani (8.3) played the full 90 minutes for Algeria. Mahrez and Musa earned an assist apiece for their respective nations.
African football was generally busy yesterday, Premier League players less so.
Sadio Mane (9.0) survived 90 mins unscathed as Senegal lost 2-1 in South Africa. With no further matches for Senegal over the break, he is likely to figure in Liverpool’s clash with his former club at St Mary’s.
There was also good news for the many Fantasy Premier League managers on Mane’s teammates Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino (both 8.7) – the pair have chartered a private plane to bring them back as early as possible from Brazil’s late Tuesday/early Wednesday match in Peru ahead of Gameweek 12.
Wilfried Bony (7.3) and Max Gradel (5.1) made substitute appearances in Ivory Coast’s goalless draw away to Morocco. Sunderland’s Lamine Kone (4.4) started for the visitors, whilst Southampton midfielder Sofiane Boufal (6.8) was named in the hosts first XI.
Ivory Coast play again, on Tuesday, in a friendly against France.
Middlesbrough midfielder Adama Traore (4.8) started for Mali in the 0-0 draw with Gabon, but the last word can only go to West Brom – Baggies man Allan Nyom (4.3) played the full 90 minutes in Cameroon’s 1-1 draw with Zambia.
