Team News

FPL Gameweek 2 team news and injury updates so far

There were only four pre-Gameweek 2 virtual media gatherings on Thursday afternoon, with the bulk of the conference calls set to follow on Friday.

With there being four Premier League teams in Carabao Cup action on Thursday evening and Tottenham Hotspur starting their UEFA Europa League campaign in Bulgaria, however, not all 20 top-flight managers will give stand-alone press conferences ahead of Saturday’s Fantasy Premier League deadline.

Jose Mourinho, for example, is only scheduled to face the media immediately after full-time in Plovdiv, so any fresh injury concerns that only become apparent between then and Sunday’s clash with Southampton may well go unreported.

Here’s what we know so far.

THURSDAY’S PRESSERS

The managers of the three newly promoted clubs and Crystal Palace were all facing the media on Thursday afternoon.

Two of the sides who came up from the Championship last season, Leeds United and Fulham, meet each other this weekend.

Adam Forshaw (hip) remains unavailable for that match but Marcelo Bielsa revealed on Thursday that he expects Liam Cooper to be fit, with the Scotland international having missed out on the opening weekend with a minor calf problem:

We think Cooper will be ready to play the game on Saturday, there are no new injuries from the last few days. Forshaw he’s been taking part in collective training today apart from any actual playing of football. Next week his rehabilitation will continue.

New signing Rodrigo was among the 11 changes that Bielsa made for the Whites’ EFL Cup defeat to Hull City in midweek.

When asked about the Spaniard’s match-fitness, the Argentinean strongly hinted at another start for Patrick Bamford at the weekend:

He’s already ready [for the Premier League]. He won’t start the game at the weekend but he’s in a good condition to start if we want him too.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was among the starters in Fulham’s win over Ipswich Town in midweek, following his benching in Gameweek 1.

All of the Cottagers’ players appeared to come through unscathed from that encounter, with boss Scott Parker saying:

Everyone pulled through last night. We got back late, the players have just been in the gym for recovery. We’ll have a gauge on it tomorrow morning on exactly where everyone is. At this moment there’s nothing jumping and I suspect we’ll be ok.

A number of Fulham’s new signings also featured in the EFL Cup and, when asked about whether any of them would feature against Leeds this weekend, Parker said:

We’ll have to see really. We got back in the early hours, players are just reporting in to do their recovery so the first time we will see the boys on the training field will be tomorrow. We’ll make a judgement on where we see the players physically.

This is a league where you can’t afford to carry players. When you’re us you need to be at your peak of fitness. With the quick turnaround in pre-season and players late coming into the building, some are just a little bit short at the moment.

Hopefully, we can get some out there because that will make us stronger but I’m not going to risk long term injury of the players.

Nathan Ferguson (knee), Gary Cahill (hamstring), James Tomkins (thigh) and Patrick van Aanholt (shoulder) remain sidelined ahead of the trip to Manchester United, while Connor Wickham (unknown) and Christian Benteke (foot) have only just returned to training and won’t be considered for selection.

Roy Hodgson also said that Mamadou Sakho isn’t yet match-fit enough despite featuring in the EFL Cup in midweek but Jairo Riedewald is expected to be back in training on Friday after a minor muscle problem forced his absence in Gameweek 1.

The Palace boss said:

We are starting to get players back from injury. Mamadou Sakho, of course, is the latest to be able to take part in training sessions. Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham took part in today’s training session, albeit with Connor it was more modified than with Christian.

We hope also that Jaïro Riedewald will train tomorrow – he didn’t train with the first-team today – but we hope he will tomorrow having recovered from the injury he picked up last week.

In terms of fitness of players, we are in a much healthier position than we have been in some time.

There was another mention of budget FPL defender Ferguson when Hodgson discussed free agent Nathaniel Clyne, who is training with the Eagles:

He’s hoping to show to us and maybe other clubs his fitness. It might be [something we’re interested in], but a lot hinges on Nathan Ferguson and how his injury situation pans out over the next few weeks.

Matt Phillips and Conor Townsend both made a playing return for West Bromwich Albion in midweek but Ahmed Hegazi was absent, with Slaven Bilic explaining:

Hegazi was on the bench on Sunday. He came in on Monday, the guys who didn’t play against Leicester had training. He did his hamstring in training, that’s the reason why he wasn’t involved tonight.

Monday or even yesterday they didn’t know how big it is. It shouldn’t be big, he didn’t do it in a sprint or anything like that. Hopefully, it’s a smaller one.

Kenneth Zohore (calf) remains sidelined.

EFL CUP LINE-UPS AND INJURIES

TeamNumber of changes from Gameweek 1Gameweek 1 starters who started in the EFL Cup
West Bromwich Albion10O’Shea
Leeds United11n/a
Everton10Keane
Aston Villan/an/a
Fulham9Odoi, Kebano
Southampton1everyone bar Smallbone
Newcastle United10Manquillo
West Ham United10Diop
Crystal Palace10Schlupp
Burnleyn/an/a
Sheffield United10Norwood
Wolves6Saiss, Boly, Coady, Traore, Dendoncker
Brighton11n/a

There were 11 Premier League clubs in Gameweek 1 action who subsequently played in the EFL Cup second round in midweek – and eight of them made 10 or more changes to their starting XI.

Southampton were the only top-flight side who went (almost) full strength, although Wolves’ three first-choice centre-halves, Adama Traore and Leander Dendoncker all kept their places from Monday night; ironically, those two clubs bowed out of the competition.

An ankle injury to Jarrad Branthwaite meant that Lucas Digne was thrown on as a 24th-minute substitute in Everton’s 3-0 win over Salford City, while Nathan Redmond was forced off in Saints’ 2-0 loss to Brentford.

With James Tarkowski ruled out with a “toe injury” amid mounting speculation over his future, Burnley lost another body when Johann Berg Gudmundsson was stretchered off after quarter of an hour in Burnley’s match with Sheffield United.

Dale Stephens limped off with five minutes to go in Brighton’s 4-0 win over Portsmouth on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, in the Europa League, Mourinho made only four changes for Spurs’ 2-1 win over Lokomotiv Plovdiv.

Son Heung-min, Harry Kane and Matt Doherty all got 90-minute run-outs but Dele Alli didn’t make the trip.

Giovani Lo Celso made his return from injury and lasted the entire game.


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1,417 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    So finally settled on my wildcard, uv tryed to build a team that will last until Xmas neway, haven't seen him in many teams but iv went with grealish only for the simple fact hel be involved with most off villas goals, thanks everyone for your advice this last couple a days, this is my team now

    Martinez
    Taa, saiss, Keane, Justin
    Kdb, Salah, James Rodriguez, grealish
    Martial, werner

    Bench, steer, Bissouma, Mitchell, brewster

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Very solid team, that. You don't want to go with Auba for this week then get Kev or Salah in?

      1. tokara
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        good pt

    2. Tarby
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I suppose you're hoping a 4.0 defender will come out as a regular or Brewster will get a move?

      You could soon have Justin, Mitchell and Brewster otherwise all non-starters. Lots of 4.5s you could move to from Justin though actually

      I really like the line-up though! I think Bissouma will turn out a great cheap option. I've just moved Rodriguez into my team, I also have DCL so hoping Everton have a good run. I agree on Grealish as well, and with Watkins maybe they'll even score some goals this season!

  2. Earn your Spurs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Has Saka lost his place for Arsenal or was there another reason he was dropped last week?

    1. LaurieH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Looks to me like Willian is now pivotal in that team, and unless Lacazette leaves, and Auba plays through the middle, opening up a LW possibility, Saka won’t start many - Willian may be rotated with Saka when fixtures are congested, but I’ve taken a -4 to replace Saka for GW2

  3. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    You reckon Werner is fit to play?

    1. Bantha
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Seems so

  4. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    nyland
    taa digne james egan
    son salah auba(C) asm
    mitro werner

    subs: mccarthy kwp rice davis

    gtg?

    1. Ped doggy woof
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nyland to start over Steer?

    2. Bantha
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nyland or Steer over Martinez???

      1. LaurieH
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Has to be Martinez surely - £17 million a big outlay for Villa, and for a keeper

  5. Pommie22
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hi guys
    Soucek(Ars) or Bissouma(New)

    Many thanks

    1. tokara
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      guy w goal threat

      1. Pommie22
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Soucek it is.
        Thanks

    2. Thescaff
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Bissouma, as he will protect your back line nicely

      1. Pommie22
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks bud

  6. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    anybody doing son to greenwood? or greenwood wont start?

    1. Tarby
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I went Son to Rodriguez

      Looking at his history his per 90 mins stats are amazing, and can expect him to get the game time at Everton. I'm expecting 175+ from him, which is what I'd expect from Rashford and Son but he's much cheaper!

      Foden is the better option between him and Greenwood I think (especially if Man U do sign Sancho eventually or another forward to take minutes from him)

  7. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Best 4.5 mid and defender guaranteed of starting?

  8. DwarfKing
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ryan
    Walker-peters, Lascelles, Doherty, Dallas
    Aubameyang(c), Salah, Ward-Prowse
    Mitrović, Kane, Vardy (v)
    Bench: Ryan, Saliba,Bissouma, McNeil

    Thoughts? I've got a FT. I'm thinking hold and next week Aubameyang for De Bruyne and Saliba for a 4.5 defender?

  9. The Bad Seed
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    thoughts on what to do with Pulisic?

    Ramsdale
    Digne Doh Webster
    Auba Son JWP Pulisic****
    Vardy Werner Mitro

    I dont want Havertz yet, which is best?
    1) Puli to Greenwood - save 1 mil
    2) Puli to James - save 1 mil
    3) Puli to Foden - save 6 mil
    4) Any other option?

    Cheers

    1. The Bad Seed
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Bench is
      Reed - Mitchel - Sais.

      So if you think he might come back soon and it is worth it to hold, let me know.

    2. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I like greenwood he can score with both feet, and up agianst a cystal palace with alot of injurys