Team News

Kane suffers hamstring tear as Heaton and Wesley are ruled out for the season

There is no Fantasy Premier League deadline to worry about this weekend but there is no less team news to report, with many of the Premier League managers (or their assistants) holding press conferences on Friday ahead of the FA Cup third round.

There are several notable injury updates to bring you.

Tottenham Hotspur confirmed late this afternoon that, following assessment today, Harry Kane suffered a tear in his left hamstring during the defeat to Southampton.

The club’s medical staff will continue to review the injury and no timeframe has been put on his return but Jose Mourinho said in his presser earlier:

I don’t know yet, maybe later today we have news but if you ask me just my feeling – good news or bad news – I am more on bad news than good news, that’s my feeling.

Some opinions from the medical department before the test results: I don’t think we’re going to have good news. We can say that no Middlesbrough [in the FA Cup] for Harry Kane.

The Special One also provided an update on Tanguy Ndombele (hip), saying:

In this moment he can’t give anything because he is injured. What he can give is what he gave against Norwich which was clearly a very, very good performance.

Spurs earlier confirmed that Eric Dier (illness) and Kyle Walker-Peters (calf) have returned to training.

Son Heung-min is available after suspension but Ben Davies (ankle), Hugo Lloris (elbow) and Danny Rose (calf) remain out.

From one premium striker to another.

Brendan Rodgers said of Jamie Vardy‘s calf problem on Friday:

He’s coming along very well. He’s done some good work with the medical team and he’ll be back out on the [training] pitch tomorrow. He’s not available for the [FA Cup] game but he’ll be training with us Sunday.

Rodgers confirmed that everyone else was fit, with Matty James (Achilles) set to feature for the under-23s tonight.

Aston Villa delivered a double dose of bad news this morning, disclosing that Tom Heaton and Wesley will miss the remainder of the season.

The pair suffered knee ligament damage in the 2-1 victory over Burnley on New Year’s Day.

Discussing who could fill in for the pair ahead of some possible transfer moves in January, Dean Smith said:

Our only fit striker at the club at the minute is Jonathan Kodija. Keinan Davis was training last week but he still felt a tightness in his hamstring.

We’ve got Ørjan Nyland and Lovre Kalinic who are both full internationals, we’ve got a lad on loan at Livingston, Matija Sarkic, who is a Montenegro international.

Pep Guardiola clarified Manchester City’s fitness situation, saying:

Ederson was sick. He came to the Everton game very bad. Today he trained and he feels better. Nico [Otamendi] is getting better too. Tomorrow he won’t play but in the next days he can be with the squad again.

On Aymeric Laporte (knee), Guardiola added:

He trained with the team for 10, 15 minutes, the rest individually and he is getting better. He feels good and in the next few weeks he will complete all the training sessions for us. I don’t know, I think he will dictate [his return date].

Diogo Jota won’t feature for Wolves against Manchester United, meanwhile.

Nuno Espirito Santo said of his striker on Friday:

Unfortunately, Diogo is not available. In the last game, the moment of the red card for Kabasele, no intention at all, but he had a strong impact. Tomorrow and probably the next days, he’s out.

He’s being assessed, he’s done an MRI, but it’s not good. We have to wait for all the blood, that the impact caused, to go down, so the doc can evaluate him better and assess him. After that, we’ll have a proper look at the diagnosis.

The Red Devils will again be without Paul Pogba (ankle), whose manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said of the Frenchman and United’s other injuries:

Paul came back after a long spell out, two games, had a reaction. Felt his ankle was sore, we did a scan. It’s not the same injury. It’s not a major one, probably three or four weeks.

Axel [Tuanzebe], Eric [Bailly], Tim [Fosu-Mensah] are getting closer but won’t be ready for this. Rojo won’t be ready for this but getting back. There’s feelings of illness and cold, which is normal around about this time.

Ahead of the Merseyside derby, Jurgen Klopp said he was none-the-wiser about the severity of Naby Keita‘s groin injury:

He will have a scan today, I don’t know exactly when but somebody will then tell me the result of this. That didn’t happen yet.

On Liverpool’s other injuries, Klopp said:

Shaqiri looks good; in a good way, will not be available for [Sunday] but looks good. OxladeChamberlain looks good. Joel [Matip] looks good. Dejan Lovren, spoke last night, looking good. Fabinho out on the pitch doing the running stuff.

They are really all in a good way, our only problem is the games are coming so quick, that’s why there’s no real news. Most of them will not be available. Then we have eight days until the next game, so we will see what’s then possible.

Across the city, Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti said:

On Bernard, we will check today in training. Schneiderlin has trained with us, I think he is available to play. We had a problem with Fabian Delph, he had a knock on his knee. He had a scan yesterday, it seems good but we will see.

Roy Hodgson today revealed that Mamadou Sakho (hamstring) will be sidelined for “a considerable period” of time.

On Palace’s other injured players, Hodgson said:

Gary Cahill had his first training session today which is positive. One in, one out in terms of training bodies.

Wilf Zaha played with an injury on Wednesday. It was really touch and go: we didn’t know until the day he’d get on the field. I think it’s very unlikely we’ll be able to do that to him again on Sunday.

David Moyes reported a few minor concerns in his press conference, saying:

Lukasz Fabianski didn’t train today but if he is fit then he will start at the weekend.

Mark Noble didn’t train today and Aaron Cresswell didn’t train today. You could see Cress was limping at the end of Bournemouth and Nobes got his metatarsal stood on.

The other one is Michail Antonio. I saw him on the grass today, but I don’t think he will be ready for the game.

Ogbonna didn’t train today either, so he’s another one we will keep an eye on.

Ahead of the Blues’ match against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Chelsea assistant boss Jody Morris said:

Injury-wise, Alonso is looking like he’s definitely out and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] is the obvious one. Apart from that, we’re still having a look at a few players to see what the fallout is like from the Brighton game.

Fikayo [Tomori] trained today but he’s still not feeling the best himself, he’s got a bit of a bug as well. Olivier [Giroud] is OK.

Newcastle United have serious injury problems heading into the match against Rochdale, with Steve Bruce saying of Jetro Willems (groin), Javier Manquillo (hamstring), Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) and Fabian Schär (hamstring):

None of them will play. I can’t see any of them being available for Wolves. In terms of severity, probably the worst is Manquillo. We think Schar and Willems are not too bad, they could be a grade I or II, which is two to three weeks.

On the Magpies’ other walking wounded, Bruce added:

Yedlin, we think, might be OK. He’s got a terrible hand injury, thankfully it’s not broken, but he’s going to be OK.

Dummett, Clark, Lascelles, we all hope that maybe for Wolves, but certainly not the weekend.

Ritchie is training, and if all goes well today, then he’ll take part on the bench.

Norwich will be without Josip Drmic (hamstring) and Dennis Srbeny (back) this weekend. Ralf Fährmann (unknown) remains sidelined but a return to team training could occur next week.

On Teemu Pukki (hamstring), boss Daniel Farke said:

Teemu Pukki is out for tomorrow, he has a little hamstring strain. He’s struggling with his toe as well. I can’t predict whether he’s available for the Manchester United game.

Eddie Howe isn’t expecting any of his injured players back for the visit of Luton, saying:

This weekend, probably not, and the week after, we’ll wait and see.

Craig Shakespeare, sitting in for Nigel Pearson, said of Watford’s injury latest:

There’s four or five that have got knocks, they’re being assessed today. We’ve still got Will Hughes [out] from the previous game. Etienne Capoue has got a bit of a knock.

Yesterday Arsenal confirmed that Calum Chambers ruptured an ACL against Chelsea and will be sidelined for between six to nine months.

Hector Bellerin and Gabriel Martinelli (both hamstring) continue to be assessed, while Kieran Tierney (shoulder) is out until March.

Brighton boss Graham Potter meanwhile revealed that Dan Burn will be out for around six weeks after undergoing surgery on his injured shoulder but Solly March (groin) could return this weekend.

Sean Dyche confirmed that Danny Drinkwater will now return to parent club Chelsea in his media gathering, while Chris Wilder announced the signing of Jack Rodwell in his.

Ralph Hasenhuttl promised line-up changes for Southampton this weekend but didn’t provide any fresh injury updates.

1,590 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TheythinkHITSallover
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Need a 4.4 D, none thst low so much, whos best bet:

    A.Rico
    B.Holgate
    C.Kelly
    D.Webster

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B, D, A, C?

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Stephens (Sot)?

    3. Wally banter
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hol

      1. TheythinkHITSallover
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Not considered Kiko will he defo start every week

    4. FirMinaMiMo
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Kiko???

    5. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      It's Holgate or Stephens for me

  2. Baganuva Hatty
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    heavy schedule of fixtures.
    This is why I find the TC chip so hard to plan for.
    Liverpool dgw 24 looks like the most sensible given the circumstances. Salah or mane Trip Captain plus 2 def plus fab. For me. Anyone care to agree/disagree.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Mo not great away. Wolves usually tough and Hammers have maybe turned a corner BUT we don't know if DGWs later on will be any better.

  3. Wally banter
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Lacking a captain option for next, apart from that how is my team guys 🙂

    Guaita
    Lord TAA soyancu (guilbert, rico)
    Salah Mane Kdb Sarr (Cantwell)
    Ings Jiminez Vardy

    Anything worth a hit?

    1. FirMinaMiMo
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ideal team for gw24 with duo pools attack!

      1. Wally banter
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Thank you mate, i was late to taa party... just brought him this week... had a very bad december, need to get back on track

        1. FirMinaMiMo
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          So consider two hammers three pool players!!

          Like ... Yu should wc for gw 24 or save ft for couple of changes at gw24

          My watchlists are

          Fabianski .... Snodgrass
          &
          Taa ...mane...salah

  4. FirMinaMiMo
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Guys!!! If minamino plays fa cup !!!

    He ll b entered into fpl list ...isnt it ??? Eagerly waiting for his fpl price ... probably (7.0-8.0) agree??

  5. Hammer Time?
    Sam FPLFamily
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    West Ham showed real new manager bounce against Bournemouth in Gameweek 21. As a result I’ll be watching their game in the FA Cup game against Gillingham this weekend with interest to see whether Moyes plays a full strength team for the confidence a cup run could bring and indeed whether the bounce was West Ham themselves as opposed to Bournemouth’s terrible form.

    Thinking ahead to West Ham’s double Gameweek in 24. If Haller gets attacking returns this weekend would you look at him for the double? Felipe Anderson? Fornals? If Antonio is fit would you see him as an option? Or are the double Gameweek fixtures vs Liverpool and Leicester too difficult to bring anyone in to your team?

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'm a (latent) fan and I won't bother - 1 at a push if there's some form. It's not easy to see a spot worth messing with in my side but it's Haller or Noble essentially. Fabs is the only defensive pick trust me.

      1. Sam FPLFamily
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Effectively relying on save points for Fab in the double though right as can’t see a West Ham clean sheet vs either Liverpool or Leicester?

    2. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Although Pool have amazing fixtures after the double, West Ham do not (I wouldn’t be looking at their assets until GW33).

      And with a myriad of good, decent priced strikers available, some of whom we have some value tied up, it would require some heroic performances from Haller to make me change my mind.

      Re: the mids, maybe, but again Leicester, Villa, Everton and the like all have better fixtures.

      tldr - it’s a no from me.

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Looking at Moura > Noble or Mooy and rotating with Cantwell for my 4th/5th MF.
      Frees up funds for the Salah/Mane double up in 24.

      1. Sam FPLFamily
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yes it feels like West Ham as enablers for the Liverpool double mid doesn’t it. I mean in reality if a cheap mid gets four in the double that’s better than 2/3 off someone else - as long as it’s not a hit and allows for other important transfers

        1. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Noble could get a penalty too. Maybe

          1. Jonny JAB
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Or sent off!

    4. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Have Fab and Cresswell. Might get in Rice. May chance bench boost that week.

      1. Sam FPLFamily
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Wow three even with the fixtures that week? How many Liverpool?

      2. Klein
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        3 defenders vs liv + lei calls for less than 3 points. Why would you wanna do that?

    5. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Good first result, but it's still Moyes - as a Sunderland fan I'll only ever think of him as the energy vampire who got the white flag out a few ganes into the season, so I don't see this form lasting. The only one I may consider is Fab if I have a transfer spare.

      1. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Would you keep Fab though beyond the double?

        1. Sam FPLFamily
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          As a rotating keeper yes. Probably not as a sole keeper

          1. AC Yew
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Cool. Makes sense

          2. Fpl Richie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            He's like Ryan - he's a set and forget and will haul when you don't expect it. Rotating him will get you a big bunch of bench points.

        2. Do I Not Like Orange
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          I currently have Hendo, so if I was getting him in I'd probably get him a week before the double & lose him a few weeks later.

          1. AC Yew
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Worth it as one week punt if you dont have another playing keeper?

    6. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      How long does new manager bounce last?

      Ask the Spurs boys....

      1. Sam FPLFamily
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        1. tisza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Did the mods or Sam delete the content of this reply 🙂

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

      Doubles of liv and lei dont look pretty.

      1. Sam FPLFamily
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Agreed!

    8. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      West Ham is a terrible team- they are not bouncing. Bournemouth is collapsing.

      You'd be better of pulling in Bournemouth opponents than poluting your FPL team with West Ham players

    9. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Felipe Anderson if any

      1. FirMinaMiMo
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Snod ll b better nd cheaper

    10. Railwayman
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I can't believe that people are actually looking to buy West Ham players 😀 If they had at least 1 decent match I would say maybe, but playing against the 2 of 3 top sides in the league, that is a big no for me. Only name worth mentioning is Fabianski if you were planning to change your GK anyway. And they won against BOU, already a Championship side and now they play against Gillingham. The trap is wide open and I can see a lot of people falling into it. Especially with all the talk around here.

    11. SDC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hi Sam, only looking at Fabianski at the moment. Gks can often score big at double GmWks, and even if Cs don't come there are always save pts. Will assess the next 3 GmWks to see if some differential players look in good form with the likes of Snodgrass, Antonio, Haller to see if they are worth the punt or not.

    12. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No

    13. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I might do Jimenez to Haller and then switch right back after the DGW is over.

    14. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'll be going with Fabianski, Trent, Salah, and Mane for DGW24. Four is enough.

    15. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Might do any combination of Foster -> Fab, Traore -> Noble/Snod, Jimenez -> Haller OR all 3 but wouldn't be expecting too much, more of a just in case type thing

    16. asquishypotato
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      The problem is, as much as I love a double week, and usually go all in, I can’t see the benefit for them in this one. I was considering a cheap midfielder I’d defence I likely to come out with noting impressive outside of Flapi, and the forwards require someone getting dropped outside of the multitude of options.

      Something I always accidentally ignore, is the other teams that we are dropping from:
      United have Burnley at home
      Spurs have Norwich at home
      Everton have Newcastle at home
      Chelsea have Arsenal at home
      Ings away to Palace

      For attackers, those are potential points taken away for the sake of a double.

  6. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bar Ings, is Maddison the best mid and forward option in his price bracket?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes. Jimenez is also good.

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, just Wolves will have nasty run of fixtures but it probably wont affect Jim anyway

  7. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best goalkeeper option (not Alisson or Schmeichel)?

    1. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Currently have Henderson but been thinking about some switch also, maybe Fabs but rather not for CSs

  8. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I currently have Robbo TAA and Mane. Was set on keeping it this way for DGW24. But having looked at the next 4 fixtures, it seems like there will be little or no clean sheets but always the threat of a haul from either Mane or Salah.

    I think I'm going with Mane Salah and TAA

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ok

  9. AbsolutelyNoIdea
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best GK to replace Heaton?

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Fabianski or Ryan.

  10. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Maddison or Dele Alli?

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hold Maddison.
      Sell Alli.

  11. Pukkipartyy
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is it Moura who takes Kanes place ?

    Who is on penalties when Kane is out?

    1. FirMinaMiMo
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Alderweid / Sonny/ dele

  12. ffakih
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who should i replace Kane with?