Everton’s Yannick Bolasie and Sunderland winger Duncan Watmore suffer season-ending knee injuries. Liverpool’s Sadio Mane will need assessing after limping off during the late loss at Bournemouth, though Diego Costa is expected to shrug off the knock that forced him off at Manchester City. Here’s our review of the latest casualties to hop on and off the Premier League treatment tables.
Seamus Coleman, Yannick Bolasie
Seamus Coleman was forced off during the second-half of Everton’s 1-1 draw against Man United following a collision with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Everton defender took a knock to the head, although speaking after the match, Coleman revealed he was feeling a lot better, despite admitting how much he was struggling after the incident:
“I don’t know the ins and outs of the injury yet. It’s feeling much better now, after the game. I couldn’t stand up straight and I couldn’t run really, so it was a cause of using your head.”
The Republic of Ireland international will need to be assessed as the week goes on, then, but there appears a reasonable chance he’ll be able to start against Watford on Saturday.
Mason Holgate took his place in defence, and would be the obvious candidate to fill in at right-back if required, while Phil Jagielka provides another option, with Ramiro Funes Mori capable of moving over to right-back.
The news isn’t so good on Yannick Bolasie, though, with the midfielder suffering a serious knee ligament injury during Sunday’s match.
Owned by 5.1% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, Bolasie is set to undergo surgery and will be ruled out for the season.
Junior Stanislas
The Bournemouth midfielder was forced off with an ankle injury during Sunday’s 4-3 win over Liverpool, and while the seriousness of the problem has yet to be confirmed, the early prognosis doesn’t sound too positive judging by Eddie Howe’s post-match comment:
“He’s rolled his ankle, felt something and heard a noise.”
There appears to be little chance of Stanislas being fit to face Burnley on Saturday, then, with Ryan Fraser or Jordon Ibe set to earn a recall for the trip to Turf Moor.
Certainly, Fraser appears to be in the box seat after making a significant impact off the bench against the Reds, sparking their stunning comeback victory with a goal and two assists.
Sadio Mane, Joel Matip
The Liverpool midfielder was forced off with what looked to be a muscular injury during Sunday’s 4-3 defeat to Bournemouth.
There has yet to be any confirmation over the extent of the problem, but with Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge already out through injury, Jurgen Klopp could certainly do without this latest setback.
The Senegalese attacker is owned by 19.5% of FPL managers, so Klopp will hopefully provide an update on his fitness in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s home encounter against West Ham United. This report suggests that Mane was present in Liverpool’s latest training session.
An absence could allow Georginio Wijnaldum to move into the front three along with Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi, freeing the way for Adam Lallana to return to the first XI in the central midfield three.
Klopp looks likely to have Joel Matip back to face the Hammers following Liverpool’s collapse on the south coast. The Cameroon international missed out last week due to an ankle injury but reports in the local press indicate that he has returned to training today.
Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic, Pedro
Chelsea forward Diego Costa was forced off with a knock during Saturday’s 3-1 win over Man City, but given that the striker was spotted running towards the melee which saw Fernandinho sent off, he appears likely to be okay to start when the Blues host West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
Nemanja Matic missed Saturday’s match due to a “little muscular problem,” so the Serbian midfielder also looks to have a reasonable chance of being fit to face the Baggies this weekend.
Cesc Fabregas did impress in his absence, though, so Matic may not automatically reclaim his starting berth in central midfield.
Pedro was forced off with a knock at the Etihad, but there has yet to be any official confirmation regarding the severity of the problem.
It didn’t appear particularly serious, with the Spaniard deciding to come off four minutes into the second-half having picked up the problem during the opening 45 minutes.
Antonio Conte will hopefully provide an update on his status in his pre-match press conference, although given that Willian scored on Saturday, the Brazilian could push for a recall regardless of Pedro’s availability.
Abel Hernandez
After last night’s loss to Middlesbrough, Hull City boss Mike Phelanconceded he will remain without the services of Abel Hernandez for the majority of December:
“Abel will be out for three weeks. He has recovered from the groin problem but he needs a hernia operation and he’ll have that this week.”
The Tigers manager handed Adama Diomande the lone striker role at the Riverside last night, though Hull’s run of three goals in six Gameweeks does little to suggest they are worth considering right now.
Priced at 4.6 in FPL, Diomande looks set to retain his starting berth due to the club’s spate of injuries up top, though at a cost of 4.7, Sunderland’s Victor Anichebe has emerged as the preferred budget forward for those eyeing up a switch to 3-5-2.
Eric Bailly
The Manchester United defender made a quicker than expected return from a knee injury to be named among the substitutes for Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Everton, with Jose Mourinho delighted to have the Ivory Coast defender available once again:
“It’s impossible for the same players to play every match and in this moment we are having that because of a lack of available options. So to have Eric back is good news, even though it is only for a few weeks because we know he goes to the Africa Cup of Nations very soon [in January], but at least in this busy period of Christmas we have one more option. That’s important.”
Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones have been playing well of late, though, and it remains to be seen whether Bailly will be rushed back in time for Tottenham Hotspur’s visit to Old Trafford on Sunday.
Raheem Sterling
The Man City midfielder missed Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Chelsea following the kick he received to his knee during the 2-1 win over Burnley in Gameweek 13.
Sterling was also unable to take part in training yesterday for tonight’s Champions League clash against Celtic, so his availability for Saturday’s trip to Leicester City now appears in some doubt.
With Pep Guardiola continuing to rotate heavily, few will be willing to bank on City’s options at this point, particularly with Sergio Aguero now sidelined for four matches through suspension.
Jack Butland, Bruno Martins Indi, Marko Arnautovic
Butland was due to return for action for the club’s U23s on Friday night, but was forced to pull out after complaining of further discomfort in his ankle.
Speaking about the setback, Stoke City assistant manager Mark Bowen revealed the latest setback isn’t as bad as first feared:
“
“He has had his MRI scans and as far as I’m aware it’s one of those where it’s nowhere near as complicated or as bad as the last time it happened to him. Last time he made a comeback he had to go back into hospital, it’s nothing like that, and as far as I’m aware as of this morning it’s basically letting it settle down for a few days. It should be no more than a week.”
With no timeline on Butland’s potential return, Lee Grant looks set to continue as the club’s number one for the time being. He’s second only to Thibaut Courtois for transfers in amongst keepers this week, having averaged 4.6 points per match.
Potters defender Bruno Martins Indi suffered a facial injury during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Burnley, with concerns he may have suffered a crack in his cheekbone:
“The fear is that it may be a crack in a cheekbone. He’s got a big bang on the side of his cheek. We’ll have to wait and see as the swelling comes down.”
Stoke have yet to confirm the severity of the problem, while there is the possibility that Martins Indi may be able to play with a protective mask.
It would be a major blow to Hughes if Martins Indi is ruled out for Saturday’s trip to the Emirates, given Ryan Shawcross (calf) and Geoff Cameron (knee and illness) are expected to remain sidelined.
There is better news on Marko Arnautovic, though, with Hughes revealing the midfielder should be okay to start against Arsenal:
“He’s okay. He got a bit of a bang, but he had a little bit of a problem with his hip during the week and I don’t think that challenge helped.”
Duncan Watmore, Jason Denayer, Steven Pienaar
Sunderland boss David Moyes has been dealt a major blow with the news that Duncan Watmore will miss the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Leicester City.
Moyes could hand a starting spot to one of Sebastian Larsson, Wahbi Khazri or Adnan Januzaj for Saturday’s trip to the Liberty Stadium in Watmore’s place, then.
The problems that forced Jason Denayer and Steven Pienaar off against the champions are not major issues, though, with the Belgian having to be replaced due to illness, while Pienaar suffered a clash of heads with Leicester’s Marc Albrighton:
“They [Pienaar and Denayer] were both injuries. Steve’s eye had closed over and he had blurred vision, and Jason was ill.”
Both players should have a reasonable chance of being able to face Swansea, then, although Larsson and Jan Kirchhoff did impress coming off the bench last weekend.
Federico Fernandez
The Swansea City defender was ruled out for Saturday’s 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur after breaking his toe during training last week.
While it’s yet to be confirmed how long the defender will be ruled out for, he appears very likely to miss Saturday’s crucial home clash against Sunderland.
Mike van der Hoorn deputised at White Hart Lane, and while the Dutchman struggled on the day, Swans boss Bob Bradley only looks to have one other alternative in central defence in the shape of Alfie Mawson.
Vincent Janssen
The Tottenham Hotspur forward missed Saturday’s 5-0 win over Swansea City due to an ankle problem, although the full extent of the injury has yet to be revealed.
The Dutchman in any case looks set to play second fiddle once again to the in-form Harry Kane, with starts only likely to come when, or if, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino decides his star man is in need of a rest.
Adrian Mariappa, Daryl Janmaat
Both players were forced to miss Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion following a serious clash of heads during a training session last Wednesday.
Mariappa also suffered a knee injury during the incident, while Janmaat looks a major doubt for this weekend’s match against Everton.
Juan Zuniga started in the Dutchman’s place at the Hawthorns, and could keep his place at either right-back or right wing-back for the next few matches.
Cheikhou Kouyate, James Collins
Cheikhou Kouyate was ruled out of Saturday’s match against Arsenal due to a minor groin problem, but according to this report, a scan suggested there is no major issue.
The Senegal international could be able to return for Sunday’s trip to Anfield, which is just as well given that James Collins is a major doubt after being forced off with a hamstring injury during the Hammers 5-1 defeat to Arsenal.
Kouyate could return alongside Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna in the three-man backline, then, with Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell in line to recover from their own groin injuries to return against Liverpool.
Toby Alderweireld, Ben Davies, Erik Lamela
Reports on social media this morning indicate that both Toby Alderweireld and Ben Davies were in attendance for Tottenham Hotspur’s training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League tie with CSKA Moscow. However, Erik Lamela reportedly missed out as he continues to toil with a hip injury.
Mauricio Pochettino confirmed Alderweireld’s availability in today’s press conference.
“Toby will be involved in the squad tomorrow. We’re happy. He is recovering well. It’s important for him after two months to be involved in the squad. Tomorrow, maybe he will be on the bench, it is important for him to recover that feeling. Then we’ll decide if he will be in the starting XI or on the bench against Manchester United. It’s about performance, it’s about feeling, it’s about how we assess him.”
