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. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Digne -> Pereira or Holgate -> Doherty ?

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      A

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      A short term. B long

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      I’m doing A.

    4. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      A

    5. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      ta all

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

    Probability of city ars being a dgw gw29?

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Could well be

    2. The King
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      6.2π

    3. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Approx 20% apparently

  3. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Play either...

    a. Pope
    b. McCarthy

    ???

    1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Pope. Have you seen Joelinton

    2. Longlatini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      A

  4. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Sort of regret -4 already, but G2G?

    McCarthy
    Evans / TAA / Boly
    Barnes / Richarlison / Hayden / Salah (c)
    Ings / Firmino / Jimenez

    Subs: Button / Rico / Cathcart / KDB

  5. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Well this all means I have to pretend that I need to pop to the bog at 1850

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Snap haha. Just set an alarm incase I get too p!ssed in the pub

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        That's a more manly answer. I'm just meant to have a romantic dinner with Mrs 'Anzhi/Richard'

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          Haha! Enjoy matey & GL this week

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

    have 11 players, Which ?

    A) fleck/traore to barnes/perez/mount/armstrong, bench lascels/traore if fleck out
    B) roll ft

  7. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Either of these worth a hit to avoid playing Rico? 1.6m itb. Can get Doherty next week in A.

    A. Grealish >> H.Barnes (-4)
    B. Lunds >> Doherty (-4)

    McCarthy
    TAA / Soy / Aurier / Rico
    Salah / Bruno F / Traoré
    Vardy[C] / Jiménez / Ings
    (McGov. KDB*. Grealish*. Lunds*)

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      I'd say A unless team news changes stuff

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Was my thinking too

  8. Drogba Legend
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    1FT, 3.1 ITB

    Pope
    TAA - VVD - Aurier - Soy
    Salah - Traore - Cantwell
    Vardy - Ings - Jimmy

    Button - Rico - KDB** - El Ghazi***

    Pretty set on El-Ghazi out for:
    A) Bruno
    B) Martial
    C) Maddison
    D) Alli
    E) Someone else

  9. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Please help!

    A: Auba > Vardy (1 week punt)
    B: Lundstram > Saiss

    Need 1 to start 11 this week

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      B, you’ll want Auba back

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

      A

    3. Longlatini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      B

  10. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Kelly to Taylor (-4)
    Or
    Grealish to Barnes/Perez/Tielemans (-4)

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      I’m probably bringing in Taylor but wouldn’t do it for a hit

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

    How much time left for FPL deadline? 30mins or 1hr 30mins?

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      1:30hrs

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

        Thanks

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      1:30
      Sadly

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

        Not watching the game? 😉

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

          Hell yeah !
          Will sleep 3.30 am & wake up 6 am tomorrow (cricket match)
          Football & FPL is too important 😉

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

            Good, I would prefer to sleep as a Vardy non-owner 😀

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

              Won't wish you luck bro 😀
              Need those points as I've kept him for sooo long

  12. Nitram
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    B Silva to Zaha

    or

    Abraham to Batshuayi

    1FT

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Definitely not B.

      Don’t like A much either

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

      Odd - I've gambled on Giroud starting, gave no thought to Bats

      1. HamezMace
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        You’re doing it right

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

    Hello!

    A) OK to do Lundstram to Taylor for free now (and start Taylor over Williams)?

    B) Or does Martial’s injury mean I should replace him instead?

    Think I should probably stick with A because Martial has risen from the dead previously this season.

    And I don’t think there’s anything I can do about the Vardy rumours. Just hope they’re rubbish!

    1FT, 2.3ITB
    Ryan
    TAA VVD Soyuncu Williams
    Salah Martial* Traore
    Vardy Ings Jimenez

    McGovern Dendoncker KdB Lundstram

    Thanks!

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

      Lundstram TBH. If he's not starting, you're not gonna want to play him.
      Even if Martial does miss out, he'll be back next game.

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Thanks. Potential DGW29 a bit of a worry too but I’ll think about that next week!

  14. UshFPL
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 29 days ago

    Take a hit to switch out Kelly or hope he plays with Dendoncker as sub? Anything else worth a hit?

    Ryan
    TAA Robbo Lascelles Kelly
    Salah Rich Maddy
    Ings Jimmy Vardy
    (Woodman Dendoncker KDB Egan)

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

      Wednesday.

    2. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      It’s......Marc Albrighton

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Vardy at the back of no.9, no?

        1. Jubilanus / BSC Small Boys …
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          I don't think so. He's got a beard, and i think he's a cameraman.

          1. Andy_Social
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 29 days ago

            Oh well, other people's problem - don't have him. Martial was bad enough.

        2. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          Looks like Maddison

    3. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      So Vardy didn't train on Wednesday then?

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

      Albrighton is wearing a bib stating "first team". Hmmmmm

    5. Wheyyyy
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Who is in the orange bib facing away in #5?

    6. Party time
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Photo # 13 has Vardy doing the agility training behind Albrighton with that head warmer

    7. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Which 3 Leicester players on Free Hit?

      Ricardo, Perez & Iheanacho?

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

        Ricardo, Evans, Kasper

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          Good call that.

      2. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        VArdy, NDidI and Morgan

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

      Worth takich a hit to get some sure starter for Rico or GK as my main is Henderson?

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

        If your keeping Hendo and have BB, there's 3 matches that you need a playing keeper for - think it makes sense to have one, even for -4

    9. davies
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Mount or Barnes

    10. C'mon the Fylde
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Who are you all ©?

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

        Taa

      2. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Vardy

        1. nolard
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          Mane

      3. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Vardy

      4. HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Mane

      5. Longlatini
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Salah

    11. The SK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Henderson*
      TAA Soyuncu Fernandez
      Salah(C) Mane Fernandes Cantwell
      Jimenez Ings(VC) Long

      McGovern Rico KDB Lundstram

      1FT 1.4ITB

      A) Henderson -> Pope
      B) McGovern -> McCarthy
      C) Don’t bother about GK and roll FT

    12. Hitmonlee
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Is it true about the no Vardy situation??

      1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        No

    13. snowman
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Yay or Nay???? For hit

      Maddison & Hendo > Bruno & Cantwell

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        I've just brought Maddison in for a hit 😀

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

          Ha ha

        2. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          I’ve just rented the bridges of Maddison county

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

        Haha this is me just trying to get Bruno in

        Have KDB but not sure on that

    14. dezille
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Likelihood of Troare starting? Taken off @ 77 mins yesterday would say yes, especially given Doherty played the full 90.

      Unsure what to do with my team this week. 2FTs (0.0 ITB) and don't want to burn one. I assume DGW news will be after the deadline.

      Guaita
      TAA Soy Stephens Fernandez
      Salah Mane Traore
      Vardy Jimenez Ings
      (Cantwell, Rico, KDB)

      A) Guaita > McCarthy to save funds for next moves when more info is avail on DGWs
      B) Guaita, Traore > McCarthy, Barnes (or Perez)
      C) Rico > Williams (can't afford 4.2 defender). Could start this week with Shaw playing EL last night, but feels like a punt, and would mean benching one of the other defenders.
      D) Downgrade Cantwell to save funds

      1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        I own Traore
        Doubting he will start

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

          But will surely get some attacking returns over their good fixture run.

    15. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      If I’ve hung onto Vardy through all this nonsense only for that fraud to bench him tonight I might actually ragequit.

      1. pablo discobar
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        According to the sources source, hes injured not benched. Source has been right all season - allegedly.

        The poster himself seems a genuine guy, lets see if his source is

        1. ‘Tis the Season
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          Rubbish

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

          I'd full on Kevin Keegan luv it if he isn't playing

    16. Bambi
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 29 days ago

      Which of the following up until GW32?

      A) Traore
      B) McNeil
      C) H wilson
      D) Doucoure

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 29 days ago

        A) No longer nailed
        B) Absolutely nailed, but some tough fixtures coming up
        C) Nailed but in a team woefully out of any sort of form right now
        D) Just feels like a waste of a pick to me.

        So, on that basis it's B for me.

    17. Party time
        4 years, 29 days ago

        Soo the rumours has begun! 1 fpl manager decides to use a fake acct to play mind games on the innocent ones...

        Wake up innocent ones! Don't be fooled

        1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          Why cant the mods delete unsubstantiated rumour nonsense. Otherwise people with a brain have to log off instead of read hysteria

          1. Party time
              4 years, 29 days ago

              Gotta feel for the innocent ones tbh. They know not the truth from a lie & we can't really say if some of the mods are actually part of the innocent ones

        2. Ange Ball
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          What happened to Vardy been loyal kept him for last 5 I can't get screwed tonight my rank taking knock

          1. ‘Tis the Season
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 29 days ago

            He WILL deliver tonight bud

            1. Ange Ball
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 29 days ago

              I want to cap him

              1. ‘Tis the Season
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 29 days ago

                I have and will Captain him tonight buddy

        3. ‘Tis the Season
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          Come on Vardy, come on my son!!

        4. Big Ronnie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 29 days ago

          Hendo to Pope or Patricio for a hit?

          1. mad_beer ✅
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 29 days ago

            Only if it's for long term. I would rather play with no keeper.

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

          Trying for the last time.

          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 Traore

          C) both for -4

          D) none

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

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

            Martin KdB* Grealish* Egan*

            1ft, 0.7itb

            Choose one:

            A) Martial to Maddison

            B) Grealish to Traore

            C) both for -4

            D) none

            Thanks.