With the final international break of the season now behind us, it’s full steam ahead for the remaining nine Gameweeks.
With domestic matters ready to recommence on Saturday, players who have featured on the other side of the world, particularly on either Tuesday night or the early hours of Wednesday morning, could well arrive back on our shores late and potentially fatigued.
That is a factor to consider as we plan for Gameweek 30, and the two that follow in quick succession. We’ve that in mind, we take time out to review those involved over the international fixtures, assessing the likely impact on the weekend teamsheets and beyond.
Arsenal
With Arsenal not playing until Sunday, Alexis Sanchez will benefit from a day of extra preparation time, having played all 180 minutes for Chile. He should be good to go against Manchester City, then, as should David Ospina, who looks set to deputise in goal for the injured Petr Cech. Ospina got some valuable minutes under his belt for Colombia, but will face limited preparation time following the long flight back from South America. Having struggled with illness and injury over the last few months, Mesut Ozil got 29 minutes under his belt for Germany, and will be expected to push for a starting spot against City.
David Ospina – Colombia (23/03 (h) v Bolivia in Barranquilla and 28/03 (a) v Ecuador in Quito) – 180 minutes.
Nacho Monreal – Spain (24/03 (h) v Israel in Gijon and 28/03 (a) v France in Paris) – Didn’t feature in either match.
Hector Bellerin – Spain U21 (23/03 (h) v Denmark in Murcia and 27/03 (a) v Italy in Rome) – Was an unused substitute against Denmark, but played the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Italy.
Rob Holding – England U21 (24/03 (a) v Germany in Wiesbaden and 27/03 (a) v Denmark in Randers) – Was an unused substitute against Denmark, but played the full match in the 4-0 win over Denmark.
Shkodran Mustafi and Mesut Ozil – Germany (22/03 (h) v England in Dortmund and 26/03 (a) v Azerbaijan in Baku) – Mustafi didn’t feature in either match, while Ozil only recovered from a hamstring problem to play 29 minutes against Azerbaijan from the bench.
Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud – France (25/03 (a) v Luxembourg in Luxembourg City and 28/03 (h) v Spain in Paris) – Koscielny played all 180 minutes. Giroud played the full match against Luxembourg, scoring twice in the 3-1 win. Only played 25 minutes as a substitute against Spain.
Mohamed Elneny – Egypt (28/03 (h) v Togo in Borg El Arab) – Played the full 90 minutes, and scored in the 3-0 win.
Granit Xhaka – Switzerland (25/03 (h) v Latvia in Geneva) – 90 minutes.
Aaron Ramsey – Wales (24/03 (a) v Republic of Ireland in Dublin) – 90 minutes.
Alex Iwobi – Nigeria (23/03 (n) v Senegal in London) – Played 61 minutes in the 1-1 draw.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – England (22/03 (a) v Germany in Dortmund and 26/03 (h) v Lithuania in London) – Was an unused substitute against Germany, but played the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 win over Lithuania.
Alexis Sanchez – Chile (23/03 (a) v Argentina in Buenos Aires and 28/03 (h) v Venezuela in Santiago) – Played all 180 minutes. Grabbed a goal and an assist in the 3-1 win over Venezuela, but did also miss a penalty.
Bournemouth
After sitting out both of Scotland’s matches, Ryan Fraser will need to be assessed ahead of Bournemouth’s trip to Southampton. Brad Smith faces a long flight back to England, but in any case is only expected to be named among the substitutes at St Mary’s.
Brad Smith – Australia (23/03 (a) v Iraq in Tehran and 28/03 (h) v UAE in Sydney) – Played 27 minutes as a substitute against Iraq, and the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 win over UAE.
Josh King – Norway (26/03 (a) v Northern Ireland in Belfast) – Played the full 90 minutes.
Ryan Fraser – Scotland (22/03 (h) v Canada in Edinburgh and 26/03 (h) v Slovenia in Glasgow) – The winger missed both matches due to a knee injury.
Burnley
Scott Arfield will need to be assessed ahead of Saturday’s home clash against Tottenham Hotspur after picking up a knock during Canada’s friendly against Scotland. Michael Keane will arrive back at Turf Moor full of confidence after impressing for England, playing all 180 minutes.
Tom Heaton and Michael Keane – England (22/03 (a) v Germany in Dortmund and 26/03 (h) v Lithuania in London) – Heaton was an unused substitute in both matches, but Keane played all 180 minutes.
Stephen Ward, Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick – Republic of Ireland (24/03 (h) v Wales in Dublin and 28/03 (h) v Iceland) – Ward played the full 90 minutes against Wales, but was an unused substitute against Iceland. Brady missed the Wales match due to suspension but played the full 90 in the 1-0 defeat to Iceland. Hendrick played the full match against Wales, and 63 minutes in the Iceland friendly.
Scott Arfield – Canada (22/03 (a) v Scotland in Edinburgh) – Started, but was substituted during the final seconds in the 1-1 draw after picking up a knock.
Sam Vokes – Wales (24/03 (a) v Republic of Ireland in Dublin) – Only played 45 minutes from the bench.
Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa will all need to be assessed ahead of Saturday’s home encounter against Crystal Palace. Victor Moses didn’t feature for Nigeria, but he will also need to be checked due to a calf problem. Willian faces a long flight back to London, although the midfielder did barely feature for Brazil.
Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi – Belgium (25/03 (h) v Greece in Brussels and 28/03 (a) v Russia in Sochi) – Courtois played the full 90 against Greece, but sat out the Russia friendly due to a hip problem. Hazard missed both matches due to a calf injury, while Batshuayi didn’t feature in either match.
Asmir Begovic – Bosnia-Herzegovina (25/03 (h) v Gibraltar in Zenica and 28/03 (a) v Armenia in Elbasan) – 180 minutes.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Pedro and Diego Costa – Spain (24/03 (h) v Israel in Gijon and 28/03 (a) v France in Paris) – Azpilicueta was an unused substitute in both matches. Pedro didn’t feature against Israel but played 67 minutes in the 2-0 win over France. Diego Costa played the full 90 minutes against Israel, scoring in the 4-1 win. Sat out the friendly against France due to an ankle injury.
Gary Cahill – England (22/03 (a) v Germany in Dortmund and 26/03 (h) v Lithuania in London) – Played the full 90 minutes against Germany, but was suspended for the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.
N’Golo Kante – France (25/03 (a) v Luxembourg in Luxembourg City and 28/03 (h) v Spain in Paris) – Played all 180 minutes.
Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek – England U21 (24/03 (a) v Germany in Wiesbaden and 27/03 (a) v Denmark in Randers) – Chalobah played 90 minutes against Germany, but was an unused substitute against Denmark. Loftus-Cheek played 32 minutes from the bench against Germany, and then played the full match against Denmark, scoring twice in the 4-0 win.
Nemanja Matic – Serbia (24/03 (a) v Georgia in Tbilisi) – 90 minutes.
Willian – Brazil (23/03 (a) v Uruguay in Montevideo and 29/03 (h) v Paraguay in São Paulo) – Played four minutes off the bench against Uruguay, and three minutes as a substitute in the 3-0 win over Paraguay.
Crystal Palace
Sam Allardyce will have been happy to see Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke scoring over the international break, while all his players involved should have decent preparation time ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stamford Bridge.
Wayne Hennessey and Joe Ledley – Wales (24/03 (a) v Republic of Ireland in Dublin) – Hennessey played the full match, while Ledley was replaced after 72 minutes.
Luka Milivojevic – Serbia (24/03 (a) v Georgia in Tbilisi) – 90 minutes.
Wilfried Zaha – Ivory Coast (24/03 (a) v Russia in Krasnodar and 27/03 (n) v Senegal in Paris) – Played the full 90 minutes, and scored in the 2-0 win. Was subbed off just before the hour-mark in Monday’s match with Senegal before it was abandoned.
Christian Benteke – Belgium (25/03 (h) v Greece in Brussels and 28/03 (a) v Russia in Sochi) – Was an unused substitute against Greece, but played 77 minutes against Russia, and scored twice in the 3-3 draw.
Everton
The standout news from the international break was the broken leg suffered by Seamus Coleman that will rule the defender out for at least six months.
Mason Holgate gained some valuable playing time at right-back for England U21s, though, and is the favourite to take up that position for Saturday’s Merseyside derby. James McCarthy re-aggravated a hamstring injury during the warm-up of the Republic of Ireland’s match against Wales, and looks set to miss the trip to Anfield. Ramiro Funes Mori is likely to also miss the rest of the campaign due to the knee injury sustained while playing for Argentina, capping a miserable international break for manager Ronald Koeman.
Mason Holgate (24/03 (a) v Germany in Wiesbaden and 27/03 (a) v Denmark in Randers) – Played 90 minutes at right-back against Germany, but was an unused substitute against Denmark.
Ramiro Funes Mori – Argentina (23/03 (h) v Chile in Buenos Aires and 28/03 (a) v Bolivia in La Paz) – Didn’t feature in the first match, and was then taken off after 36 minutes against Bolivia due to a knee injury.
Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy – Republic of Ireland (24/03 (h) v Wales in Dublin and 28/03 (h) v Iceland) – Coleman started against Wales, but suffered a broken leg following a rash tackle by Neil Taylor. McCarthy was initially named in the starting XI to face Wales, but suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury during the warm-up, and had to withdraw from the starting XI.
Ashley Williams – Wales (24/03 (a) v Republic of Ireland in Dublin) – 90 minutes.
Idrissa Gueye – Senegal (23/03 (n) v Nigeria in London and 27/03 (n) v Ivory Coast in Paris) – 90 minutes v Nigeria, 45 minutes v Ivory Coast.
Ross Barkley – England (22/03 (a) v Germany in Dortmund and 26/03 (h) v Lithuania in London) – Was an unused substitute in both matches.
Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku – Belgium (25/03 (h) v Greece in Brussels and 28/03 (a) v Russia in Sochi) – Mirallas played six minutes as a substitute against Greece, and 66 minutes in the friendly against Russia, scoring a penalty in the 3-3 draw. Lukaku played the full 90 against Greece, scoring in the 1-1 draw. Only played 13 minutes off the bench against Russia.
Enner Valencia – Ecuador (23/03 (a) v Paraguay in Asunción and 28/03 (h) v Colombia in Quito) – Played the full 90 minutes against Paraguay, and 59 minutes as a starter in the 2-0 defeat to Colombia.
Hull City
Abel Hernandez will face limited preparation time ahead of Saturday’s home encounter with West Ham United, with the forward facing a long flight back from South America. He only played 13 minutes across Uruguay’s two matches, though, so could yet start against the Hammers.
Andrew Robertson – Scotland (22/03 (h) v Canada in Edinburgh and 26/03 (h) v Slovenia in Glasgow) – Played 45 minutes as a substitute against Canada, and the full 90 in the 1-0 win over Slovenia.
Ahmed Elmohamady – Egypt (28/03 (h) v Togo in Borg El Arab) – 90 minutes.
Omar Elabdellaoui and Adama Diomande – Norway (26/03 (a) v Northern Ireland in Belfast) – Elabdellaoui played the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 defeat to Northern Ireland, but Diomande was limited to 27 minutes off the bench.
David Meyler – Republic of Ireland (24/03 (h) v Wales in Dublin and 28/03 (h) v Iceland) – Played 80 minutes against Wales, but was an unused substitute against Iceland.
Alfred N’Diaye – Senegal (23/03 (n) v Nigeria in London and 27/03 (n) v Ivory Coast in Paris) – Was an unused substitute against Nigeria then played 88 minutes v Ivory Coast before it was abandoned.
Lazar Markovic – Serbia (24/03 (a) v Georgia in Tbilisi) – Was an unused substitute.
Kamil Grosicki – Poland (26/03 (a) v Montenegro in Podgorica) – Started, and was only substituted during the final seconds.
Abel Hernandez – Uruguay (23/03 (h) v Brazil in Montevideo and 29/03 (a) v Peru in Lima) – Played 13 minutes as a substitute in the first match, but was an unused substitute against Peru.
Leicester City
Shinji Okazaki will face slightly limited preparation time ahead of Leicester’s home fixture against Stoke City, but after playing only 98 minutes for Japan across their two matches, he may well be considered for a start. Jamie Vardy maintained his recent goal scoring form by netting in England’s 2-0 win over Lithuania.
Kasper Schmeichel – Denmark (26/03 (a) v Romania in Cluj) – 90 minutes.
Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray (24/03 (a) v Germany in Wiesbaden and 27/03 (a) v Denmark in Randers) – Chilwell played 90 minutes against Germany, but was an unused substitute against Denmark. Gray played 58 minutes as a starter against Germany and then featured for 29 minutes as a substitute in Denmark.
Andy King – Wales (24/03 (a) v Republic of Ireland in Dublin) – Was an unused substitute.
Wilfred Ndidi and Ahmed Musa – Nigeria (23/03 (n) v Senegal in London) – Ndidi played all 90 minutes, while Musa featured for 76 minutes before being replaced.
Shinji Okazaki – Japan (23/03 (a) v UAE in Al Ain and 28/03 (h) v Thailand in Saitama) – Played eight minutes in the first match, and the full 90 minutes in the 4-0 win over Thailand, registering a goal and an assist.
Jamie Vardy – England (22/03 (a) v Germany in Dortmund and 26/03 (h) v Lithuania in London) – Played 70 minutes in Dortmund, and came off the bench to play 30 minutes against Lithuania, scoring in the 2-0 win.
Liverpool
Adam Lallana is expected to be out for up to a month with the thigh injury he suffered while playing for England. Liverpool chartered a private jet to get Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino back as soon as possible following their exertions with Brazil, in the hope that they could take part in training today ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside derby.
Simon Mignolet and Divock Origi – Belgium (25/03 (h) v Greece in Brussels and 28/03 (a) v Russia in Sochi) – Mignolet was an unused substitute against Greece, but played the full 90 minutes in the 3-3 draw against Russia. Origi was an unused substitute in both matches.
Ragnar Klavan – Estonia (25/03 (a) v Cyprus in Nicosia and 28/03 (h) v Croatia in Tallinn) – 180 minutes.
Joe Gomez – England U21 (24/03 (a) v Germany in Wiesbaden and 27/03 (a) v Denmark in Randers) – Was an unused substitute against Germany, but played the full 90 minutes at right-back against Denmark.
Nathaniel Clyne and Adam Lallana – England (22/03 (a) v Germany in Dortmund and 26/03 (h) v Lithuania in London) – Clyne was an unused substitute in both matches. Lallana played 66 minutes in Dortmund, and the full 90 minutes against Lithuania, where he registered an assist. The midfielder suffered a thigh injury in the match, and is likely to be ruled out for up to a month, though the club have yet to officially confirm his absence.
Emre Can – Germany (22/03 (h) v England in Dortmund and 26/03 (a) v Azerbaijan in Baku) – Played 24 minutes as a substitute against England, but didn’t feature against Azerbaijan.
Georginio Wijnaldum – Holland (25/03 (a) v Bulgaria in Sofia and 28/03 (h) v Italy in Amsterdam) – Played 45 minutes as a starter against Bulgaria, and 77 minutes in the 2-1 friendly defeat to Italy.
Ben Woodburn – Wales (24/03 (a) v Republic of Ireland in Dublin) – Was an unused substitute.
Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino – Brazil (23/03 (a) v Uruguay in Montevideo and 29/03 (h) v Paraguay in São Paulo) – Coutinho played 86 minutes in the first match, and 87 in the second, scoring in the 3-0 win over Paraguay. Firmino played 89 minutes in the first match, and 87 in the second.
Sadio Mane – Senegal (23/03 (n) v Nigeria in London and 27/03 (n) v Ivory Coast in Paris) – Only played 25 minutes as a substitute against Nigeria, then played 88 minutes v Ivory Coast, scoring from the spot, before it was abandoned.
Manchester City
Bacary Sagna, Pablo Zabaleta and Kevin De Bruyne are all injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s trip to Arsenal. Sagna and Zabaleta are nursing groin and thigh problems respectively, while De Bruyne picked up his own groin injury during a Belgium training session, and sat out both matches. Claudio Bravo, Nicolas Otamendi, Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero all face long flights back from South America, but the extra day’s preparation should mean they are considered to start against the Gunners, if selected.
Claudio Bravo – Chile (23/03 (a) v Argentina in Buenos Aires and 28/03 (h) v Venezuela in Santiago) – Played all 180 minutes.
Bacary Sagna – France (25/03 (a) v Luxembourg in Luxembourg City and 28/03 (h) v Spain in Paris) – Didn’t feature in either match due to a groin injury.
Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Aguero – Argentina (23/03 (h) v Chile in Buenos Aires and 28/03 (a) v Bolivia in La Paz) – Otamendi played the full match against Chile, before missing the 2-0 defeat to Bolivia due to illness. Aguero started against Chile, playing 58 minutes, but only played 34 minutes as a substitute against Bolivia.
Aleksandar Kolarov – Serbia (24/03 (a) v Georgia in Tbilisi) – 90 minutes.
John Stones and Raheem Sterling – England (22/03 (a) v Germany in Dortmund and 26/03 (h) v Lithuania in London) – Played six minutes as a substitute against Germany, and the full 90 minutes against Lithuania. Sterling sat out the Germany friendly, but played an hour against Lithuania, and provided an assist in the 2-0 win.
Fernandinho – Brazil (23/03 (a) v Uruguay in Montevideo and 29/03 (h) v Paraguay in São Paulo) – Limited to just eight minutes off the bench against Uruguay.
David Silva – Spain (24/03 (h) v Israel in Gijon and 28/03 (a) v France in Paris) – Silva scored in both matches, playing the full match against Israel, and 37 minutes as a substitute in Paris.
Kevin De Bruyne – Belgium (25/03 (h) v Greece in Brussels and 28/03 (a) v Russia in Sochi – De Bruyne missed both matches after picking up a groin injury in training.
Leroy Sane – Germany (22/03 (h) v England in Dortmund and 26/03 (a) v Azerbaijan in Baku) – Played the full match against England, but only came off the bench to play six minutes in the 4-1 win over Azerbaijan.
Kelechi Iheanacho – Nigeria (23/03 (n) v Senegal in London) – Played all 90 minutes, and scored from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw.
Part Two of our club-by-club analysis will follow shortly.
