Team News

FPL Gameweek 22 team news and injury updates

After a hectic Christmas period in which we often had to make do without pre-match press conferences and up-to-date injury news, we are at least back to some semblance of normality ahead of Gameweek 22.

All 20 Premier League managers held media gatherings either on Thursday or Friday, with some well-owned players among the players discussed by their respective bosses.

There was positive news on James Maddison, who sustained a blow to the head against Aston Villa.

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers said today:

Just a knock, he had some tests after the game. He’s fine, he’s trained the last few days.

Kevin De Bruyne also took a whack to his upper body in the EFL Cup on Tuesday but when asked whether the Belgian has had any ill-effects since, Pep Guardiola said:

No, no, I think it is fine.

Jurgen Klopp brought us up to date on Liverpool’s injury situation, saying on Friday:

James [Milner] and Naby [Keita] are not available, both are muscle injuries. We’ll see how quick, we don’t have to put a timeframe on it. For sure not for this weekend, not for next week, but then we will see.

Joel [Matip] was not part of all parts of training, he was outside on the pitch which looked really good but then he had to do his own stuff again. Yesterday was part of the first part of training. Shaq [Xherdan Shaqiri] trained completely normal since he was in.

Dejan [Lovren] and Fabinho we expect to be back next week in full training. If’s that then early enough for the United game I don’t know but we will see.

A start away at Tottenham Hotspur would seem a tall order for new signing Takumi Minamino but Klopp gave us an idea of where the versatile Japan international might feature in future, saying:

He played [as a striker v Everton] because we thought it was the most natural to him in the first place, especially defending-wise against the ball it was most natural to him.

He played the position the year before, not this season but the season before, when my former player was manager at Salzburg. I watched a couple of games and they played a lot in a diamond and he was the no.10 very often. He can play second striker, all that stuff, for Japan he plays as no.9, he can play on the wing. 

But we thought from a defending point of view it’s the most natural position for him that he knows because I don’t want to give him kind of a playbook: read it and now you know what you have to do. 

So he could defend naturally actually, but it’s not the only position he can play, no, no no. He played in a 4-4-2, both wings, second striker, for Japan the only striker – a lot he has to offer and I loved the game. 

For Spurs, Harry Kane (hamstring) and Moussa Sissoko (knee) will now be missing until April.

Ben Davies (ankle), Tanguy Ndombele (hip) and Hugo Lloris (shoulder) remain out but Danny Rose (calf) is back in training.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that Harry Maguire (hip) has “got a chance” of featuring against Norwich City tomorrow, despite previous media reports hinting at a long absence.

The United boss explained:

He’s got a chance for tomorrow. It was a minor thing, don’t know where the reports are coming from. He’s going to go through training today and see how he reacts for tomorrow. He was close to playing against City, just not fit enough.

Scott McTominay (knee) and Paul Pogba (ankle) remain sidelined, while Jesse Lingard was ruled out of Saturday’s match due to illness and Eric Bailly (knee) and Tim Fosu-Mensah (knee) will feature for the reserves on Friday night.

Daniel Farke ruled Teemu Pukki (hamstring) out of the trip to Old Trafford, so, with Josip Drmic (hamstring) also sidelined for the game at Old Trafford, teenage forward Adam Idah could potentially be handed a chance up front.

Christian Pulisic‘s stock is set to fall further in Fantasy Premier League, with Frank Lampard saying today:

Christian Pulisic is out, he’ll be out for a few weeks. He was injured in training last Saturday. It’s an injury in the adductor, so he’s got a tendon injury. It was quite a nasty injury, he was in pain when it happened.

On Chelsea’s other injury news, Lampard added:

Marcos Alonso is recovering, he’s trained today but he won’t be ready for tomorrow. Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] is still out.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson (hamstring) will miss the trip to Stamford Bridge while Sean Dyche said on Thursday that the Clarets will “almost definitely” be without Ashley Barnes, who is set to see a specialist on a recurring groin problem.

Jay Rodriguez and Phil Bardsley have missed almost a full week of training due to illness so may also not feature, with their manager explaining that their ailment was “a deeper thing than just a bug”. 

Nuno Espirito Santo ruled Willy Boly (ankle) and Diogo Jota (dead leg) out of Saturday’s game against Newcastle but Morgan Gibbs-White (back) is back in contention.

The Wolves boss said of Jota:

He had a strong impact, he has some fluid and blood on the injury, he’s going to be scanned again next week. After this scan we can wait and determine better his return.

Jamaal Lascelles (leg), Allan Saint-Maximin (hamstring), Fabian Schar (hamstring) and Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) are not quite ready to return despite making good progress in their respective rehabilitations but Paul Dummett (groin), Ciaran Clark (calf), Andy Carroll (groin), Miguel Almiron (groin), Dwight Gayle (hamstring) and Jetro Willems (groin) are all back in training and in contention to feature against Wolves.

Javier Manquillo (hamstring) is sidelined, however, while Steve Bruce seemed to imply on Friday that the Magpies had lost Yoshinori Muto and Ki Sung-yueng to knocks as well.

DeAndre Yedlin will also be assessed for a knee injury.

There’s not much change at Everton, with boss Carlo Ancelotti reporting:

The injured players are the same. Andre Gomes will come back next week and start to train individually here. [Jean-Philippe Gbamin], I don’t know precisely but is working alone in this moment. The same with [Alex] Iwobi. The others are fit.

Dan Burn (shoulder) and Jose Izquierdo (knee) are Brighton’s only two confirmed absentees for the trip to Everton but Aaron Mooy is a fresh doubt, with Graham Potter revealing that the in-form Australian had “not trained in the last couple of days” after picking up a knock.

Roy Hodgson confirmed that new loan signing Cenk Tosun is in contention to be in the Crystal Palace squad against Arsenal, adding that Max Meyer (knock), Jairo Riedewald (knock) and Wilfried Zaha (knock) were all fit.

The Gunners will be without Kieran Tierney (shoulder) and Calum Chambers (knee), while Hector Bellerin (hamstring) looks unlikely to feature, with Mikel Arteta saying on Thursday that the defender was “still not there” despite a partial return to training.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wasn’t included in the Arsenal medical round-up and has been pictured in training, so the assumption is that he has recovered from the illness that forced his no-show in the FA Cup.

Keinan Davis (hamstring), John McGinn (ankle), Jed Steer (Achilles), Tom Heaton (knee) and Wesley (knee) are all unavailable for Aston Villa, while Jonathan Kodjia (illness) hasn’t trained as of Friday.

There was no update on Matt Targett (hamstring) in Friday’s press conference but Dean Smith had previously expressed confidence of him returning for this weekend.

Eddie Howe said on Friday that the “long-term absentees won’t really change for this weekend” but, without naming names in the broadcast section of his press conference, added that a few of Bournemouth’s sidelined contingent are “getting very close now”.

News broke late on Friday that Chris Mepham would be out for a long period of time after sustaining a serious knee injury.

Danny Welbeck (hamstring), Tom Cleverley (heel), Sebastien Prodl (knee) and Daryl Janmaat (knee) remain unavailable for Watford’s match against the Cherries, although Welbeck has at least resumed training with the rest of the Watford squad.

Kiko Femenia (hamstring) has joined them on the sidelines for this one, while Nigel Pearson said on Thursday that the Hornets “don’t think” Will Hughes (hip) will recover for the trip to the Vitality Stadium.

The Watford boss added that a few of his players had “less-serious” injuries that will be monitored over the coming days.

Michael Verrips (concussion) will miss Sheffield United’s match against West Ham United tonight but Simon Moore (groin) is back in training and could be back among the substitutes after a month-long absence.

Michail Antonio (hamstring), Jack Wilshere (groin) and Andriy Yarmolenko (thigh) remain unavailable for the trip to Sheffield United, while Ryan Fredericks will join them on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury that will rule him out for four to six weeks.

Yan Valery (virus) is Southampton’s only confirmed absentee.


Predicted line-ups and more detailed information are found in the Team News tab.

Our regular YouTube/podcast round-up can be viewed here or listened to below.

631 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Baconfaen
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best mid next 2 gw max 11.5?
    got Mane, KdB, Traore and Cantwell.

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

    Hi Guys hope you have a fine friday!

    moura to ?
    a, sarr
    b, perez
    c, traore

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

        thanks for answare

  3. HellasLEAF
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Captaining Jiminez over Vardy and Rash.

    Who's with me??

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Thought about this for quite a while but ended up at KDB.

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Think I would if I owned him.

    3. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I've been switching between him and KDB.

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

    Best one week punt this week? Thinking Mahrez but scared he won't start.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hudson-Odoi or Mount maybe.

  5. George James
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Alli >>

    A) Maddison
    B) Richarlison
    C) David Silva

    Cap one

    1) Vardy
    2) KDB

  6. boroie
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Captain and Vice Captain from this...

    A - KDB
    B - Mane
    C - Martial
    D - Rashford
    E - Vardy
    F - Maddison
    G - Abraham

    Currently on:
    C - Vardy
    VC - Martial

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

    who is more likely to start..
    dilva or mahrez or both?

  8. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bench one:

    Grealish (MCI)
    Holgate (BRI)

    Thanks!

    1. Postbox12
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Grealish, 3-0 City

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

    KDB or Salah for captaincy?

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

      KDB

  10. shady4revr
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play one
    A. Rico, Kelly or Aurier
    B. Greenwood or Cantwell.

    1. Postbox12
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rico and Cantwell

  11. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    DCL could make a good Cap pick.

  12. Postbox12
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on Mount to Grealish this evening after the deadline? They'll be a .2 swing by the looks of it hence the early transfer.

    Would still have 1 FT.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Keep Mount

  13. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play soy(southampton)
    Or
    A)Williams (NOR)
    B)Rico (WAT)
    Have bournmouth cover(ramsdale) already

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

    3. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

  14. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Final decision:

    Captain KdB or Martial? Currently on KdB but switched earlier

    1. Postbox12
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Tony

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      KdB for me. Hope both Aguero and Jesus start.

    3. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'm going rashford.. so maybe martial in your case..

    4. toerag
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      kdb - i may go there yet

    5. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      KDB

  15. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Manic day at work. Wildcard feels a little rushed. Thoughts please!

    Nyland - McCarthy
    TAA - Lundstram - Mendy - Dunk - Williams
    Salah - Mane - KdB - Martial - Hudson-Odoi
    Vardy - Jimenez - Greenwood

    0.1 ITB

    1. Postbox12
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      As a Chelsea fan I would say no to CHO. Not a fan of Mendy either but apart from that looks good

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Pulisic is out for a couple of weeks though, right?

      2. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Am going to switch to Noble for the DGW.

      3. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        CHO decent punt for short-term, playing 352?

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          yep. Can't look past Greenwood's value at 4.3m... haven't owned him yet.

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Get rid of CHO and get DCL/Ings.

      Downgrade Mendy to Evans/Sidibe

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I've just done the opposite 😀 Sold Soyuncu and DCL for Greenwood, Mendy, CHO.

        Worried about Leicester defence with the injury to Ndidi. Have a good feeling about jumping on Mendy and CHO now.

        Can't quite afford Ings, unfortunately, although 4 of his next 5 are tricky.

    3. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I like the triple pool, and team looks good considering you have salah and mane..
      I was burned by CHO earlier in the year, so not sure I'd go back there, but could work out.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        cheers mate

    4. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Not keen on Mendy or CHO tbh. Rest looks fine. Id get DCL or Maupay instead of Greenwood and downgrade Mendy & CHO.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        thanks, have actually owned Maupay and DCL briefly. I'd feel obliged to start him every game but have plans to bring in Noble for the DGW.

        DCL is cheap, but he's still 1.6m more than Greenwood which is quite a lot considering. Fancy a punt on Mendy if Pep teases us with a wingback formation.

    5. Postbox12
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Could easily play Mount wide which he has been doing recently then 3 of kovacic, Barkley, jorginho and kante in the middle

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        yes, it's possible. Think I'll risk it for a biscuit though, thanks 🙂

    6. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Keeper combo is unusual but both plays and decent games for both. I like your defense, Williams is he bought at 4.1? Might want another 4.2 who is more regular but hard to find that. Front 6 is good, but Hudson Odoi and Greenwood is like a little to early (about two years or so-), latter is ok bench fodder but think i would prefer Cantwell there and then upgrade William to a sure starter, like Holgate/Catcarth etc.

      One option would be to combine martial and hudson to two 6 ish mids? Something like Grealish/Mount/Sarr/Perez?

  16. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    G2G
    Pope
    TAA Lundstarm Gomez
    Salah KDB(vc) Martial Moura
    Jiminez Vardy Rashford(C)

    Button Kelly Simpson Guendouzi

    Tempted -8 but would mean losing Vardy/Moura/Gomez for DCL/Mane/Holgate

  17. CONNERS
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Team & bench order OK guys?

    Ryan
    TAA - Lund- Soy
    Salah - KDB - Maddi - Rich
    Vardy (c) - Rash - Mousset

    Button / Grealish - Gomez - Rico

    1. toerag
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      think id fancy grealish over mousset

    2. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Normally he'd get the nod but fixture isn't the best.

  18. aborg
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Apart from Fabianski, Anyone thinks that Ramsdale could equal or surpass other goalies on save points?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      not for me. Begovic might be back.

  19. Evasivo
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Grealish & Cantwell owners, which you benching??

  20. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Should i do DLuiz->Richarlison(-4) and bench Grealish?

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

      No

    2. toerag
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      nah

    3. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      cheers

  21. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who for cap from these guys please?

    A) KDB
    B) Mane

    It’s wrecking my head haha. Cheers 😉

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

      KDB

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers bud

    2. Arn De Gothia
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      kdb

  22. toerag
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    ok then

    A. ings away at leicester
    or
    B. Traore at home against newcastle

    ty

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

      B

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

      Traore

    3. Relaxing
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ings

    4. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A all day long

    5. toerag
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      yes. just done it. ty

  23. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Which do you prefer for GW24 & beyond?

    A. Robbo/DCL (-4)
    B. Gomez/Jimmy

    Would your answer be the same if A had McCarthy (need to fund A) in goals and B had Henderson?

    1. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Do you have Trent? If not, then A. If you do have Trent, then B.

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

        Will have TAA as well. Thanks

  24. DMP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is Kiko Femenia ruled out?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah ruled out this GW

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

        TY

  25. Firmino
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    A) Fabianski
    B) Ryan
    C) Foster

    1. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C

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

        Why all the love for Foster?

  26. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    2FT's but genuinely stuck what to do here. Any suggestions? Maybe Kelly out? Or downgrade Abraham to DCL to prepare for getting Mane in for 24?

    Ryan
    TAA, Lund. Rico
    Madd, Martial, Salah, KDB
    Abraham, Vardy, Rash(c)
    (Button, Dendoncker, Kelly, Reid)

    1. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Great Capt choice

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

        Chasing.

    2. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Can you get Mane in GW24 without a hit? If so, then Kelly out seems decent for now.

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

        Yes, can make one move next week which would leave me two frees to complete the Mane in move.

        Who do you think for kelly replacement? Thinking maybe Sais?

  27. jorgenoj
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What to do here? 2 FTs and 1.0 ITB

    Ramsdale - Button
    TAA - Soy - Lundstram - Holgate - Rico
    Salah - KdB - Martial - Maddison - Dendoncker
    Vardy - Rashford - Ings

  28. It's his Job.
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Just made the decision to put armband on Rashford choice out of these,

    Vardy
    KDB
    DCL
    Mane(V.c)
    Rashford(C)

  29. burkeyoa
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Removing Robertson to allow Mane to come in for the DGW (already have TAA & Salah.

    Can afford any defender who do you go for? I was set on Dinge but read a few comments back a link to an Everton forum saying baines is starting!

    1. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      either or? I am going with 1 mid and two defenders as two liverpool at 12.3 too much prep and 1 could be rested?

    2. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Digne sounds like a good pick. MC hasn't been keeping many CS, but could give a punt on Walker/Mendy.

  30. SH1M1
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Unsure on Vardy (C) this week, Saints have been good away & defensively + they will want revenge from the 9-0