Team News

The latest FPL injury updates and team news

There is an earlier-than-usual Gameweek deadline of 19:00 BST on Friday this week, so with that in mind we are again bringing you up to speed on everything we know so far on the team news and injury front.

There were ten Premier League manager press conferences that took place on Thursday, with the remaining pressers to follow tomorrow.

The headline news from today was Marco Silva’s revelation that Lucas Digne (hamstring) is “available” for Everton’s Gameweek 3 curtain-raiser against Aston Villa.

The Everton boss said on Thursday:

He will be available to the match. Leighton (Baines) will be also. Just Fabian (Delph) out.

On when Fabian Delph (groin) might be back, Silva added:

It’s possible next week. He’s already started with the team, not full session. Will be a possibility for him to play a full match or during the two matches we have to play next week.

Asked if any of his new signings would feature on Friday,

Djibril [Sidibe] did all pre-season with his former club. Ready to play if I decide. Of course, now it’s just a matter of him understanding our ideas and philosophy.

[Alex Iwobi] started really late, just now his second week working with the team. Didn’t do the pre-season. If we need him during the game, he is able to help us. Of course, not [lasting] the 90 minutes.

[Moise Kean] is trying to settle as fast as he can. Working with him, not just on the pitch but outside the pitch, for him to understand what I want from a player in that position. If he will start or not, that’s for me to decide tomorrow.

Villa will welcome back reserve centre-half Kortney Hause (ankle) for this match, with Dean Smith saying:

Kortney Hause is back. I think there’s only James Chester that’s missing and not been on the training ground. Jonathan Kodjia is jogging now but this game will be too early for him.

Smith was also asked about his raft of new signings and replied:

Some of them have got in earlier than others, some are waiting their turn. You have to earn the right to play. You’ve got to prove that you’re better than the players who have already got the shirt.

John McGinn was namechecked by the Villa boss when asked about his side’s goal threat, with Smith saying:

I think our most likely goalscorer at the moment is John McGinn, he’s made some really deep runs into the opposition half.

Unai Emery teased the prospect of a start for Nicolas Pepe against Liverpool, saying:

The most important thing is, like a person, to help him and his family to feel comfortable here. He is now three weeks working here with us. He didn’t do with us the pre-season but he’s progressively feeling better.

Fifteen minutes in Newcastle, 45 minutes against Burnley. I think he is progressively getting better performances and feeling better. I think for Saturday, he is ready also, maybe, to have more minutes. I am going to decide tomorrow.

Mesut Ozil (illness/personal) and Granit Xhaka (leg/back) are back in full training but Emery said he would make a late call on the pair’s involvement at Anfield:

Tomorrow is the last training and we are going to decide tomorrow. Today they trained, but really, I need tomorrow to have the last training, to be really sure how we can be better there.

Ben Chilwell (hip) looks set to miss out for Leicester City this weekend, with Brendan Rodgers providing the following update:

Ben has had an injection last week. He’ll join in the training. We’ll see how he is for the weekend, but more than likely going to be ready for next week.

Rodgers was asked about Ayoze Perez‘s role on the right flank and replied:

He’s played there a lot at Newcastle. He can play from outside, he can play inside, his instinct is to be in the box. With players, whether they’re central or wide, they always end up in there.

Chris Wilder had mixed news on the injury front at Sheffield United, saying:

We’ve got a doubt about John Fleck for the weekend but Callum Robinson has trained this week so he’ll be OK. We’ll give John as much time as possible.

Luke [Freeman] plays a number of positions, Ben Osborn plays a number of positions, Basham does, Lundstram does. That gives us the ability to cover injuries, suspensions and loss of form.

Roy Hodgson confirmed that James Tomkins (groin) and Mamadou Sakho (match fitness) remain out but could hand a debut to Gary Cahill, saying:

Any place is a good place to give an experienced and good player like Gary Cahill his debut but at the moment I haven’t fully decided what our team line-up should be.

Manuel Pellegrini reported a clean bill of health other than Winston Reid (knee/match fitness), meaning that Mark Noble (dead leg), Felipe Anderson (thigh) and Sebastien Haller (knock) are all fit and available for the trip to Watford.

The Hornets have been dealt a blow with Javi Gracia revealing that captain Troy Deeney will be out for an extended period after undergoing knee surgery.

Gracia said:

We have a problem with Troy. He had surgery this morning with a problem with his knee. I think he will be about at least two months. We’ll see his evolution.

Roberto Pereyra (thigh) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (ankle) are also doubts, with the Watford head coach adding:

They are not training and we’ll see if in the next days some of them can be available or not. But in this moment they are doubtful.

Asked if Ismaila Sarr and Danny Welbeck could feature, Gracia said:

Now both are training with the team. They are not in the best condition but most important in this moment is that they can help us. I’m sure they cannot play all the minutes, but they can help us in the next performance.

I think Sarr is a player who in this moment needs more training but from the first training session, you can see his qualities. I think he’s a good winger, sharp. I’m sure he will give us a good option. It will depend on the squad, the other players, but from now I think he can help us.

[Welbeck] needs more time to train and to recover his best condition but we’ll see [if he plays]. There are many circumstances can modify my opinion if he is better to start this game or the next one.

Ralph Hasenhuttl and Graham Potter reported no new fitness concerns ahead of Southampton’s trip to Brighton.

Asked about Leandro Trossard’s debut performance in Gameweek 2, the Brighton boss said:

He was a little bit unlucky not to start against Watford, Jurgen’s a bit unlucky not to start against West Ham. Both have done really well. You can see his (Trossard’s) quality in terms of how he linked the game.


You can view a video round-up or listen to the podcast summary of today’s pressers below, while the Team News tab will be updated over the coming 24 hours ahead of Friday’s deadline.

A further article will follow tomorrow afternoon rounding up the details of Friday’s press conferences.


Lessons learned from Gameweek 2

1,430 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Start digne zinch or lundstram

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Zinchy and DIgne

    2. Budweiser
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Really

  2. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Start two off *

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

    Bench one;

    Lundstram, Perez, VVD

    1. Hazardous1983
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Vvd

      1. JJeyy
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        On him atm.. don’t see a clean sheet but then the other two clash fixtures

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundstram

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

      Tough decision between Lund & VVD which is crazy....have same prob

    4. Mauricios Cappuccino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Perez

  4. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Capt salah sterling kdb or jota

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Sterling

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

      Sterling

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Sterling.

  5. jaywills
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) mcginn and callum Wilson
    B) perez and Josh King?

  6. jimski
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Dunk or a West Ham def (Diop / Fredericks) as the better 4.5 option?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Dunk

      1. jimski
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Even despite West Ham's amazing fixtures?

  7. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bottomed..
    Guys...Would you do target Robinson Perez to get Martial in and to avoid Perez Robinson price drops?kelly and cantwell/dendo the enablers...salah sterling trossard the other mids..-4?Thanks.

  8. james 101
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    On a WC

    A.
    Pope Button
    Digne WanB Lunds Dunk Kelly
    Mane Sterling KDB Martial Cantwell
    Pukki Barnes Rashford

    B.
    Pope Button
    Digne WanB Lunds 4.5 Kelly
    Mane Sterling KDB Martial Cantwell
    Pukki 4.5 Kane

    C.
    Pope Button
    Mina WanB Lunds Dunk Kelly
    Mane Sterling KDB Martial Cantwell
    Pukki 4.5 Kane

    (Not sure who the 4.5s would be!)

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

      C is exact team I got now

  9. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Giving FPL Twitter a go as I’m bored, and inspired by Flapjack! 😆

    Don’t know how much I’ll use it, but will post some musing and thoughts on bandwagons, transfers etc on there too - followed welcome! (I may return the favour 🙂 )

    Find me here: https://twitter.com/fpl_toplad/status/1164574480800342019?s=21

  10. Rik Waller
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Jofra!!!

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He's an absolute tour de force.

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      BEAST

  11. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Leaning towards captaining Martial instead of Kane

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

      Martial is clinical but he's a lazy fecker! 😛

    2. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Think he might haul against that defence

  12. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    On a WC, currently going with Laporte & Dunk instead of AWB and Zinchenko.

    Right or wrong?

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

      Wrong in my humble opinion.

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

      I think Cancelo may come in for Zink soon.

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Right. Not sure on Zi and his minutos.

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

    Spurs to keep clean sheet against Newcastle?
    Bookies have them even money to concede.

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

    Bench two

    A. Lundstram - LEI (H)
    B. King - MCI (A)
    C. Balbuena - WAT (A)
    D. VVD - ARS (H)

  15. NorwichCityLad
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Good to go? Or any changes needed

    Ryan
    Sanchez,Coleman,Emerson
    Sterling,Salah,kdb,Mount
    Barnes,Pukki,Rashford

    Pope Lundstram,Kelly,Cantwell

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pretty good team with couple of differentials

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

      Solid.

    3. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Are you going with Pukki as captain mate?

  16. TurboTastic!
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What is this news about troy

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Out for a couple of months

    2. LangerznMash
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Assaulted by the united Greek fores.

    3. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Was an epic battle. Brad Pitt deserved an Oscar. And that naked chick...

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Something wrong with his Achilles.

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Don't trust a horse when it comes to Troy

  17. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Ceballos + Pieters (3-5-2)
    B) Digne + Kelly (4-4-2)

    Which is better?

  18. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Jimenez > Haller next gw? Haller has Nor H, Jimenez Everton A.

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

      Haller got the harder game though

  19. Knallie
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Final choice:

    A) Coleman + 6.5 striker (which one?)
    B) Digne + 6.0 striker (which one?)

  20. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Two free transfers and this is my team what would you do please help

    Fabianski
    Zinchenko, kwp, zouma, robertson
    Salah, sterling, Lanzini, perez
    King, Aubameyang

    Bench, button, Dendoncker, targett, greenwood

    1. Aadii
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lanzini and perez can be upgraded to Martial and Trossard

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Good opportunity to transfer Targett out, i'm considering if i should give Perez one more game.

  21. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone else thinks that the price changes are mental this season compared to previous ones?

    I made early transfers on Saturday which already resulted in a 0.6 price swing with another 0.1 incoming !!!

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Fear for your team if you own Perez and Vardy.

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Same thing start of the year every time

    3. TheNecromancer
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes. But if you look at the ownership percentages, it all makes sense.
      We are all basically making rosters comprised of

      1. TheNecromancer
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        ...

        1. TheNecromancer
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          (Let's try to complete that thought again. WTF is up with the site).

          We are basically all making rosters comprised of players that represent less than ten percent of those available.
          Demand drives price.
          Nec

        2. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Losing value on assets like Vardy an Perez becomes more difficult getting replacements.

          - 0.2 on your budget is not good replacing Perez and Vardy.

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

      My team value has gone from 100.1 to 100.5 in 24-hours.
      Thanks everyone!
      -Nec

  22. Krionos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Firmino has 8 goals in 8 matches against Arsenal. There's been a total of 35! goals scored in those matches between the two teams...

  23. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    2ft 0itb. Any ideas what to do? Should i give Perez one more game? Thinking Perez to Tielemans actually, too sideways?

    Pope
    TAA Robbo Digne KWP
    Salah Sterling KdB Perez
    Jota King

    Button Dendo Rico Greenwood

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Too sideways - can you go Mount or Trossard or do you have that no new players rule?

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Only gw1, thinking Mount is a good option. Ideally i'd like to have a Leicester player for following two games though.

    2. Aadii
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Better get Trossard for Perez. Thank me later.

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Not convinced he's 100% nailed?

    3. Mauricios Cappuccino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Do what your name says

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        King, Perez to Pukki, Mount?

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ooh this is tricky.

      I’d be tempted by Perez King to the party boy and the 5.5/6.0 of your choice.

      I have McGinn for security of starts and confirmed attacking role. Going again I might get Trossard but still fear Potter. Don’t think we’ve seen his worst yet.

      Do see the attraction of Ceb but think you need a bench option for him.

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Perez, King to Pukki, Mount an option. I like Mount for that midfield spot. Cheers

  24. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What’s the story with Douglas Luiz? He’s being bought up loads apparently looking at FPL stats. Curious about what he offers.

    1. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Points last game. Not sure much else.

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

      People probably assume he is a Brazilian playmaker with a name like that

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

        I was wondering if they think they’re snapping up David for a bargain.

  25. AlleRed
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Heaton (EVE) or Pope (wolves) this GW?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pope

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

        Thanks, leaning that way w/ Pope's saves + similar chance of CS. Everton's struggles going forward only thing making it a question, though not sure Villa can keep CS's right now.

  26. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pick one:

    1) Lundstram vs Leicester
    2) Dendoncker vs Burnley

    Thanks a lot!

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      1

  27. jimski
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What are the relative merits of Dunk and Montoya? Is the latter nailed on, and is he a better bet overall - if so, why?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Dunk - nailed, goal threat (both ends), good for BPS
      Montoya - high average position and lots of crosses should mean assists

      1. jimski
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Think I'm going to stick with Dunk - he needs to make up for those 11 points on my bench in gw1!

  28. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    So do we think the (super) early wildcarders reap their rewards or rue their impatience?

    I’m definitely jealous seeing some of the teams but feel like it has to be too soon given the lack of stats/ game time to make good decisions this season.

    Then again maybe they just win as they get a head start on the new template...

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

      IIRC there is a lot of success to activate your WC in December before boxing day.

  29. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    WC, thoughts?

    Pope
    Digne AWB Dunk Rico Lundstram
    Salah Sterling KDB Dendonker Cantwell
    Kane Pukki Jota

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Quite nice really.

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

      Nice

      I have the exact same crew from last week but with Martial McGinn and AWB for KdB Dunk and Cantwell. Think I’m ahead but could be wrong with that City fixture list.

  30. Del FPL-iero
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Jota to ... (up to 6.9)?