Team News

FPL Blank Gameweek 28 team and injury news

The second Blank Gameweek of 2019/20 is just hours away, with four teams – Manchester City, Sheffield United, Aston Villa and Arsenal – not in Premier League action this weekend.

The headline team news for the other 16 clubs we round up in our weekly summary below.

Everton v Manchester United

Marcus Rashford (back) and Paul Pogba (ankle) remain sidelined ahead of the trip to Everton, while Anthony Martial (thigh) is a fresh doubt after missing Thursday’s demolition of Bruges.

Martial picked up a muscle injury in training ahead of that Europa League tie and had a fitness test on the morning of the game, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saying that the Frenchman had tried in vain to recover.

Speaking yesterday, Solskjaer said:

I don’t know with Anthony, to be honest. I’ve not asked. He tried [on Thursday] morning, so he wasn’t that bad, but we’ll have to do a scan [on Friday] probably.

Odion [Ighalo] has definitely shown what type of striker he is, he’s ready for that game on Sunday.

The Norwegian had earlier hinted that Mason Greenwood could start against the Toffees, saying after the win over Bruges:

If we hadn’t had Odion [Ighalo] tonight then Mason [Greenwood] would have had to play… he’s then [got] this game on Sunday.

Theo Walcott (knee) has been passed fit to feature for Everton but Lucas Digne (calf) remains a concern, with Carlo Ancelotti saying on Friday:

Theo [Walcott] is fit, Theo doesn’t have a problem. Lucas Digne is training individually, he had a little problem on his calf the last week. We are going to check tomorrow.

On Andre Gomes, Ancelotti said:

He’s ready to start. He’s closer to starting compared to last week. He trained well, normally, properly. He can play but I have to talk to him before the game.

Bournemouth v Chelsea

Christian Pulisic (tendon), N’Golo Kante (muscle) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring) have been joined on the sidelines by Tammy Abraham, who has suffered a recurrence of his niggling ankle problem.

On Abraham, Frank Lampard said:

I don’t know, we need to see. I speak to the doctors daily about it but we’re not actually clear on that one. At the minute, he’s not doing anything active for the next couple of days.

Eddie Howe said that he was “very hopeful” that Nathan Ake would have no ill-effects from the slight head injury that caused him to miss the defeat to Burnley last week, while Jefferson Lerma has also been back in training this week following a minor back problem.

Charlie Daniels (knee), Arnaut Danjuma (foot), Chris Mepham (knee), Lloyd Kelly (thigh) and David Brooks (ankle) remain out.

Watford v Liverpool

Jordan Henderson (hamstring), James Milner (muscle), Nathaniel Clyne (knee) and Xherdan Shaqiri (calf) remain out but Jurgen Klopp didn’t reveal any fresh injury concerns in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

Klopp said of his sidelined contingent:

Hendo is running, Millie is running and even more. Not enough for this game now but we will see, especially with Millie, what we can do for Tuesday. Not sure about Hendo, Shaq not yet. All coming closer.

Watford don’t have any confirmed absentees for the visit of Liverpool, with Daryl Janmaat (knee) having rejoined training this week.

Kiko Femenia is available for selection, too, although Nigel Pearson said the versatile full-back was not “match ready” for the defeat to Manchester United last weekend.

Ismaila Sarr could depose Roberto Pereyra from the right flank after making his comeback from injury as a substitute last weekend, meanwhile, with Pearson saying his fit-again winger is “much closer” to a start  .

Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Son Heung-min (arm), Harry Kane (hamstring), Ryan Sessegnon (hip) and Moussa Sissoko (knee) will all miss the visit of Wolves, although Juan Foyth (groin) is back in training.

Jose Mourinho confirmed on Friday that Erik Lamela is still not fit enough to offer anything more than 20/25 minutes off the bench, meanwhile.

Jonny (knock) was substituted in the win over Norwich City last weekend with what Nuno Espirito Santo described as a “strong kick” and the wing-back subsequently missed the Europa League clash with Espanyol, with the Wolves boss saying on Wednesday that the Spaniard was “in pain” and expressing hope that he “doesn’t stay out very long”.

Wolves’ involvement in Europe means that we won’t hear anything more from Santo ahead of Friday’s deadline, with there being no standalone press conference ahead of that clash with Jose Mourinho’s troops. 

Norwich City v Leicester City

Wilfred Ndidi (knee) is uncertain to be involved at Carrow Road on Friday evening, despite having returned to training and having made “great progress” according to his manager.

Brendan Rodgers said:

Wilf Ndidi has been training but we’ll see how he is for Friday. If he’s not available then he’ll look to next week but he’s making great progress, which is good for us.

We don’t want to lose him. When he came back for those games, it was deemed he was fit. But we just had a slight reaction from that, so we want to just be sure of where he is at in terms of his fitness.

Hamza Choudhury is available after suspension.

Rumours circulating on Friday suggest that Jamie Vardy will miss out, however.

Sam Byram will miss the rest of the season after being ruled out for four months with a hamstring injury, while Onel Hernandez is set to be sidelined for eight weeks following knee surgery and Christoph Zimmermann (hamstring) won’t recover in time to feature against Leicester.

Newcastle United v Burnley

Ciaran Clark (ankle), Jetro Willems (ACL), Paul Dummett (tendon) and Andy Carroll (hip) remain out, while the availability of Emil Krafth (ankle), who was pencilled in for a return to training this week, is uncertain.

Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) and Javier Manquillo (hamstring) have been back on the training ground this week, at least, and could come into contention.

Valentino Lazaro is suspended.

On a possible change of shape, Steve Bruce said:

It’s something we’ve talked about and worked on. The big teams sometimes change every other week, it’s something that is quite normal in the Premier League. It gives us another string to the bow, and we’ll see.

Ashley Barnes (hernia) is still unavailable as Burnley prepare to face Newcastle, while Sean Dyche said on Thursday that Matthew Lowton (knee) and Johann Berg Gudmundsson (minor niggle) are both “unlikely” to be involved on Tyneside.

There was better news concerning Chris Wood (hamstring), however, with Dyche confirming that his striker had been back in training this week.

The Burnley boss said:

He’s certainly fit, so he comes back into the thinking. But Vyds and J-Rod in the last couple of games have certainly laid down a marker as well.

West Ham United v Southampton

Ryan Fredericks (shoulder), Jack Wilshere (groin) and Tomas Soucek (groin) will miss the visit of Southampton, while Andriy Yarmolenko (thigh) is not ready to return despite featuring in a practice match this week.

Nathan Redmond (muscle) is set to be out until after the March international break but Kyle Walker-Peters has returned to training after a minor calf issue and could come into contention.

Ralph Hasenhuttl added in Thursday’s press conference that he didn’t know if Moussa Djenepo would be in the right frame of mind to feature following the death of the player’s mother this week.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Crystal Palace

James Tomkins (hamstring) and Jeffrey Schlupp (muscle) remain sidelined ahead of the trip to Brighton and Hove Albion but Mamadou Sakho (hamstring) and Luka Milivojevic (illness) are back in training and Cheikhou Kouyate has made a swift recovery from the twisted ankle that forced him off last weekend.

Jose Izquierdo (knee) is Brighton’s only confirmed absentee, with Dale Stephens (hamstring) having returned to training and been passed fit ahead of the M23 derby.


More detailed information and predicted line-ups can be found in the Team News tab.

A video round-up with Neale and Andy can be viewed below.

1,090 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Better move?

    a) Rico > Stephens
    b) Egan > Soy

  2. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Why was Barnes benched in Leicester's last PL match?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      He’s not nailed on. Despite being a popular pick on here.

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      More defensive formation to combat City.

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Tactical, defensive approach

  3. Henning
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Im 60 points ahead in ml should i cap Salah or Vardy?
    He didnt had Vardy last gw.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      I’m chasing ... going Vardy. Friday night away Leicester like.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Pick whoever you think will score more, good lead

  4. King Lallana
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    What to do?.....

    McCarthy
    Lascelles TAA Soy Saiss
    Salah(c) Perez Martial Traore
    Ings Firmino

    Rico DeBruyne* Auba*

    1 FT 0.1 ITB

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Rico to Taylor

  5. Pompey5
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Jota or DCL?

    1. Barnabus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Jota, great fixtures and form

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Only if they stick with that formation and keep Adama benched...

  6. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    For Long Term who to get ??
    A- Pereira
    B- Doherty
    C- Saiss
    D- Soy
    C & D to Save Money

    1. Pompey5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Same decision. Currently with C&D

  7. George James
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Barnes or Bruno?

    Can afford either

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Bruno

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Bruno my a country mile

  8. FantasyHero
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Who to bring in:
    Boly or Saiss?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Saiss

    2. Pompey5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      I've gone for Saiss

  9. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Vardy captain then. Who’s doing it despite owning Salah & Mane?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Me.

    2. Doctor Evil
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Can’t do it, if he blanks tonight the. Just worried until Pool play but I am going TAA again

  10. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    KDB is dropping again. Are people completely mad?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Yes they are

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        He’s even on pens now lol

        1. Pompey5
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          A reason to sell..? 🙂

          1. Make United Great Again
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 29 days ago

            No because he scores them unlike his teammates

    2. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      I am actually happy with that. Finally KDB points (without C) will give some rank rise (at least a bit)

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Zero pts wont hurt much, then zero pts again in 31

    4. DeadStarComing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      He could well blank for 2 of the next 4 games. Plus they'll be many like me looking to wildcard in GW32. I may sell for Mane this week. Apart from the hope of a DGW29 is there really a reason not to do that?

  11. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    A) Hayden & Aubameyang -> Richarlison & Vardy (hit needed to get Aubameyang back)
    B) Hayden & Aubameyang -> Barnes & Vardy (no hit needed for Auba)
    C) Traore & Aubameyang -> Richarlison & Vardy (no hit needed)

    Need 11 starters and not sure who is more nailed out of Hayden & Traore this week! and Hayden destined for a 2 pointer anyway...

    Cheers.

    1. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      B

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Cheers

  12. JBG
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    C better to use that extra cash in midfield or attack when you need it.

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Reply fail to optimusblack

  13. andres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Would you do kdb to mane?

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      I would.

    2. Barnabus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Already did last week

    3. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Damn. Ideally you’d want both.

  14. Runaway
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    I am about to do Martial> Barnes and roll the other FT. Yes or No?

    Ryan
    TAA Soy Stephens Lascelles
    Salah (C) Mane Martial**
    (V)ardy Ings DCL

    Button Dendo Stevens* KDB*
    2 FT 0.0 ITB

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Not sure it’s worth it. Martial will score goals with Bruno supplying him

      1. Runaway
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        I was not planning to sell him but uncertainty combined with the bad fixture made the decision but sill not sure.

      2. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Martials not fit though... and no OT refs at Goodison.

    2. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Sounds good.

  15. Sloane426
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Giroud a good pick with Abraham confirmed out?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      No

    2. jaybradlights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      His hot streaks are still tepid

  16. NUFCAndrew
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    1 FT. 1.4 ITB

    McCarthy

    TAA VVD Boly Stephens Williams

    Salah Adama Cantwell

    Raul Ings

    Hendo KDB Auba Grealish

    What to do here? Adama & Williams out?

  17. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Have Vardy, better mid?

    A) Mount
    B) Barnes

    1. NUFCAndrew
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Still b

  18. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Worth a hit to do this?

    Martial to Bruno and Lundy to Chilwell/Boly/Saiss

    Just gets me to 11 this week. FH is the other option but 31 looks prime for that.

  19. Alli
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Play Traoré? If so, for who?

    Ryan
    TAA - Stephens - Dunk - Lascelles
    Salah(c) - Mané(vc) - Cantwell
    Jimé - DCL - Ings

    Button - Traoré - Williams - KDB

  20. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    C Trent, Salah or Party?

    Sitting on Trent at present 😉

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Jamie Vardys having a party

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        At my house too.

  21. sovietrockettes
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Start one:

    A) Traore
    B) Taylor

    1. jaybradlights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      B

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      B, not risking another 1 pointer

  22. ChelseaB123
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    On a scale of stupid to very stupid...

    Transfer in: Zaha

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Mental illness

    2. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Very stupid
      Sorry

      1. ChelseaB123
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        I guess I’m very stupid

  23. whosBenj
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Grealish, KDB, Martial > Barnes, Mané, Fernandes for -8?

    Or hold on Martial > Fernandes and take the -4?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Hold the martial and -4

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Don’t think Bruno can overcome a -4 ?

  24. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    How this looking

    No playing GK, but surely not worth a -4
    TAA, Robbo, Soybean
    Salah, Bruno, Perez, Traore
    Vardy, Ings, Jimmy

  25. Mattymo23
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Please help, been torn on this all day.

    A) Grealish + Greenwood to Saka + Vardy (-4)

    B) Grealish to Fernandes

    1. ChelseaB123
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      B

    2. jaybradlights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Greenwood likely to play this weekend, Saka's long-term minutes still unclear - B for me

    3. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Both are good. I would maybe do A but next week since Ars has a blank.

  26. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Hey fam! Need some suggestions! 2 FTs 0 ITB

    Pope
    TAA Robbo Lascelles Taylor
    Salah Traore Hayden
    Kun* Jimenez Ings

    Hendo* KDB* Fleck* Stevens*

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Kun to Vardy

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        And save?

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          Yes. Unless you are interested in double LEI, then Fleck to Barnes is an option or Stevens to Doherty

          1. Pep Roulette
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 29 days ago

            Cheers Holmes. Hold Traore?

            1. Holmes
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 29 days ago

              Hold for couple of more weeks I guess.

  27. Pompey5
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    On a wild card. Any changes?
    Pope
    VVD TAA Soy Siass Taylor
    Salah KDB Fernandes Barnes Saka
    Vardy Ings Jota

    TIA

  28. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Struggling to decide, help very much appreciated.

    Ramsdale
    TAA Taylor Cathart
    Salah(C) Martial* Dendo
    Firmino Vardy Ings

    Martin KdB* Grealish* Egan*

    1ft, 0.7itb

    What to do?

    A) Martial to Maddison

    B) Grealish to Mount/Traore

    C) both for -4

    1. jaybradlights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Martial to Fernandes looks good to me - Traore most likely benched, Maddison form is awful and no Ndidi expected so will be playing deeper, plus you already have Vardy.

      Mount a bit of an unknown quantity at this point, could be great, but Martial to Fernandes make the most sense to me

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Cheers mate.

  29. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    1FT - 2.8ITB - 11 players for GW28
    Pick one:

    A) hold sidibe
    B) sidibe -- pereira
    C) sidibe -- evans
    D) kelly -- taylor
    E) sidibe -- doherty

    1. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Take him out for wolves/lester def.

  30. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Ryan
    Lascels soy boly taa (lund)
    Mane salah traore (fleck kdb)
    Dcl vardy ings

    Which & whom to whom?

    A) fleck/traore to barnes/perez/mount/armstrong.
    B) roll ft