Team News

The FPL Gameweek 1 team news and injury updates

After rounding up Thursday’s nine press conferences in an article posted yesterday evening, we now turn our attention to the 11 remaining pressers that were held on Friday.

Pep Guardiola confirmed that Leroy Sane (knee) would be missing for up to seven months, with the German winger having limped off in the Community Shield last weekend.

Guardiola said:

Normally this kind of injury, six or seven months. Hopefully in February or March, he can come back with us.

The city boss also ruled out Joao Cancelo (match fitness) but Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez look set to feature.

Cancelo’s arrival may affect Kyle Walker‘s security of starts at right-back, although Guardiola also sounded a warning about the new signing’s versatility:

I think for Kyle it’s important to have good competition. Both have to fight for the same position. Cancelo can play on the left as well.

Across Manchester, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer passed Paul Pogba (back) fit.

The Norwegian said:

Paul joined in, actually, the day after [the AC Milan match]. I wasn’t going to risk him, travelling down with the flight, but he joined in the game against Blackburn the day after, behind closed doors here. He is available.

All of the boys are fit. It was always our aim to get to the starting line with as many players as fit as possible. Of course, Eric’s injury is bad news but the rest of them are available.

On the subject of Mason Greenwood, Solskjaer added:

I believe that Mason’s going to be playing and involved a lot, and, when he is, he’ll score goals.

United face Chelsea this weekend, with Frank Lampard providing the following update:

We have Kante fit as in he’s fit – is he match-fit is a question I will have to decide. Willian is working to be fit, it’s probably come slightly too soon for him. Possibly Rudiger the same but he has been training with us for a few days.

A Spurs injury bulletin earlier today confirmed that Dele Alli (hamstring) is unavailable for the visit of Aston Villa and joins Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Son Heung-min (suspended) and Juan Foyth (suspended/injured) on the sidelines.

Ben Davies looks unlikely to feature having only just returned to training following a groin problem but Serge Aurier (hand), Victor Wanyama (knee) and Eric Dier (unspecified) are all back in training.

Arsenal issued their own medical update, stating Nicolas Pepe (match fitness), Alexandre Lacazette (ankle) and Mohamed Elneny (match fitness) would require a fitness test ahead of Sunday’s trip to Newcastle.

Emery said:

We are going to start Sunday with players who I am very convinced can perform now at 100 per cent. For some, that’s impossible for them to achieve that performance for us because they arrived later or started training with us after injuries.

Lacazette for example trained yesterday and today but I don’t know now about Sunday. Tomorrow we are going to check whether he can play or not. The same is with Pepe, he’s been working with us for one week.

New signing Kieran Tierney (groin) is out for four to six weeks but David Luiz has trained and could make his debut on Tyneside.

Andy Carroll (match fitness) won’t be ready to feature against the Gunners and is set to remain sidelined for at least two or three weeks, while Florian Lejeune (knee) and DeAndre Yedlin (groin) are long-term absentees.

Steve Bruce also reported “one or two little injuries” in Friday’s presser, which could include Matt Ritchie (hamstring).

Eddie Howe said of Bournemouth’s injury situation:

The long-termers are still out and obviously the fresh ones we have: David Brooks, Lloyd Kelly and Dan Gosling.

On Kelly, Howe added:

Hopefully it’s not long term and he’ll be back in weeks, not months.

Howe also passed Charlie Daniels and Steve Cook fit, saying:

I’d say they’re fully fit, I’d have no problem with playing either player. They’ve been out for a long period of time but have come back very, very good.

James Tomkins (groin), Mamadou Sakho (match fitness) and Jeffrey Schlupp (unspecified) will all miss Crystal Palace’s match against Everton but Roy Hodgson said the late-returning contingent from the Africa Cup of Nations – notably Wilfried Zaha – are all available for selection.

Zaha, indeed, will be considered for a start.

Fabian Delph (groin) will miss out for the Toffees but Leighton Baines (unspecified) has returned to training and a late decision will be made on his involvement.

Marco Silva said of new recruit Alex Iwobi, meanwhile:

The position we are looking to him is clear, coming from the left, he can play behind the striker really well. If you need to play him on the right he can do also, but we are looking for him coming from the left and behind the striker.

Brendan Rodgers didn’t report any significant fitness concerns in his pre-match press conference on Friday and said that Wilfred Ndidi will be in the squad this weekend, following a late return from the Africa Cup of Nations.

On new signing Dennis Praet, Rodgers said:

I felt that we had a lot of defensive midfield players. In terms of offensive midfielders we probably only had one of those, in Youri Tielemans. I always felt at the end of last season that we needed two.

Rodgers suggested that Praet may need some adjustment time, however.

Matt Doherty and Raul Jimenez returned from injury in the Europa League last night, leaving Morgan Gibbs-White (knock) as Wolves’ only reported injury concern.

Full team information and predicted line-ups are available via our Team News tab.

A video round-up can be viewed below:


1,834 Comments Post a Comment
  1. GoonerSteve
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best 4.5 defender?

    Currently on Montoya

    1. Ritchies Magic Hat
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’m punting on Guilbert

    2. Spoox777
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Cahill may be worth looking at as Tomkins & Sakho are injured ?

      1. Ritchies Magic Hat
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah a 4.5 Palace defender is usually gonna be good value

  2. _werre_
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Any constructive feedback on my team?

    Pope
    VVD - Dinge - Holebas
    Salah(C) - Martial - Perez - KDB - Fraser
    King - Kane(VC)

    Bench: Heaton - Greenwood - Lundstram - Kelly

    1. Ritchies Magic Hat
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Not sure about Holebas tbh - I’d maybe go Coleman over Digne and then get Stones? Apart from that looks great

    2. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Must admit I'm still struggling to decide whether to go 5 mids in the starting XI. Some great mid options but means no assured starting sub if needed. Overall looks sound though.

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

    Dunk or Montoya?

    1. Lokako
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Duffy

    2. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      montoya

    3. fantasyfog
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      duntoya?

    4. Judeksi
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I'll trust last season's stats so Dunk

  4. H-SF
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Zouma or Christensen?

  5. Spoox777
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    ....Lost of previous page 🙂

    Please tell me i'm ready....or not

    Pope . (Heaton)
    Robertson . TAA . Zinchenko . Digne . (Kelly)
    Salah(c) . Sterling(vc) . Zaha . Perez . (Hayden)
    King . Jota . (Ings)

    * I know Zaha is a risk but i think he'll play. Even if he comes off the bench he'll be good for GW2
    * not sure whether to play Ings over Zaha this GW?

    1. L S P
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      GW1's not the time for risks

      1. Ritchies Magic Hat
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Agree. I’d be looking at Pedro for that 7.0 mid

        1. Spoox777
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Definitely not Pedro. Would rather risk Barkley

    2. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Too many good mid-priced mid options to punt on Zaha imho but gl with it if you do!

    3. Larnell
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I wouldn't have that much money on the bench

  6. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    G2G?

    Pope
    TAA VVD Digne Zinchenko
    Salah Sterling Martial Perez
    Wilson King

    Button Greenwood Lundstram Dendoncker

    1. Spoox777
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes. Nice strong team but weak bench. G2G 🙂

  7. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Rico unlikely to Start with daniels apparently fit?

  8. alastair
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    New team registrations are currently coming in at the rate of 2000 a minute - total of teams could hit 5.5m

  9. A Team Of James McCleans
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who comes in for Ozil for gw1?

    1. ♤TeddyBear♤
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      he was probably never in

  10. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Deeney or Jota?

  11. Endgame
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A. [4-4-2]
    Pickford
    Coleman - Aké - VVD - Robertson
    Salah - Fraser - Sigurdsson - Pérez
    Wilson - Kane

    (Button - Kelly - Dendoncker - Greenwood)

    or

    B. [3-4-3]
    Pope
    Coleman - VVD - Mina
    Salah - Fraser - Sigurdsson - L. Moura
    Wilson - Kane - Jota

    (Heaton - Kelly - Rico - Dendoncker)

  12. swobe
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Maddison OR Pulisic?

    1. ace
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pulisic, but a gamble

  13. CloudSky
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Arsenal statement: Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac will not be part of the squad for our opening match against Newcastle United following further security incidents which are being investigated by the police.

  14. PaulParker
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Heaton
    VVD - Digne - Taylor - KWP
    Sterling - Salah - Barkley - Perez
    Kane - Jota

    Pope - Dendoncker - greenwood - Montoya

    1m ITB to sort things out as needed next week... GTG?

  15. Lecky Legs FC
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Choose one please thank you:

    A) Boly & King

    B) Ake & Jota

    1. Lukakuna
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  16. Lukakuna
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Lucas Moura
    B) Martial

    1. Spoox777
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Martial could be a good pick? Moura ok too but i'd go with Martial

    2. Fingonfin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Martial

  17. St Pauli Walnuts
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    KWP owners not worried about Aurier being back in training? Probably means KWP only good for a couple of fixtures yep?

  18. DR0GBA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Robbo
    B) TAA

    (have VVD)

    1. Spoox777
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I guess Robertson slightly less rotation risk. I'm going with Robbo & TAA as i couldn't pick which one.

      1. DR0GBA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        it's really hard to pick from the 3 LIV defenders since they're all capable of getting attacking returns.

        VVD was very unlucky to not have had loads more goal contributions. I feel like he had so many close opportunities

  19. Messi man
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Wesley villa’s main striker?

  20. Fingonfin
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Suggestions?

    Ederson
    Robertson, TAA, Digne
    Salah, Sterling, Martial, Pérez, McGinn
    King, Wood

    Button, Dunk, Lundstram, Greenwood

  21. Mezza Fanook
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    G2g?

    Pope (button)
    Digne vvd robbo (Lundstram Aarons)
    Pérez Salah kbd Robinson (mcginn)
    Auba king Jota

    Thx

    1. Fingonfin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Sterling, replace KDB and downgrade king or jota

    2. Spoox777
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Prefer to have Sterling over KdB or Aubameyang. If you're happy then G2G

      1. Mezza Fanook
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Was thinking Fraser, Sterling + 6m forward (Ings maybe?) instead of kdb, mcginn & auba

  22. bennydebull
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Kelly
    B) Lundstram
    C) Rico

    1. Mezza Fanook
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    2. Spoox777
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B) i think? Most likely to play?

  23. Spoox777
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Would you play Ings vs BUR
    or risk
    Zaha vs EVE (i'm sure Zaha will play)

    1. Fingonfin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I am not sure about him, even if he plays

  24. The King
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Drinkwater over dendonker anyone?

  25. The Legend Squad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Zouma is hands down the best defender £5m or less... thoughts?

    1. The King
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Will he play though?

  26. Nr.10
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Zinch gonna play? Not sure. Help me to decide please!

    1. FPLShaqiri
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes this weekend, maybe not when new full-back and Mendy are fit. It is Zinchenko's place to lose right now

      1. Nr.10
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thank you!

  27. jdogg
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A.Taa and vvd

    B taa and laporte

    Cheers

    X

  28. FPLShaqiri
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which Watford defender has more attacking threat? Ignore price:

    a) Dawson
    b) Femenia

  29. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play Walker-Peters (home to Aston Villa) or Dinge (Away and all the skills which come with). I already have TAA & VVD for Liverpool?

    i'm playing 3-5-2. Thanks