Dugout Discussion

Grealish absent through injury as Castagne returns for Leicester’s trip to Villa

Jack Grealish (£7.7m) is absent from the Aston Villa squad for the visit of Leicester City this afternoon.

Rumours had swirled about the midfielder’s potential absence over the last 48 hours and grew louder closer to kick-off, with the Athletic’s Gregg Evans reporting that Grealish will also miss the first part of Villa’s Gameweek 26 double-header against Leeds United, too.

The England international is owned by 37.0% of Fantasy Premier League managers overall and just over 35.0% in the top 10,000, so his absence will be keenly felt and cause a headache or two ahead of next Saturday’s deadline.

Anwar El Ghazi (£5.3m) is the man who benefits from Grealish’s absence and will line up on the left flank of Villa’s attack.

Dean Smith’s other alteration from Gameweek 23 is also enforced, with Matty Cash (£5.0m) ruled out for several weeks due to injury.

Ahmed El Mohamady (£4.3m) makes just his second league start of the campaign in Cash’s place at right-back.

Brendan Rodgers has also made two changes from the side that beat Liverpool last weekend.

The fit-again Timothy Castagne (£5.7m) and Luke Thomas (£4.2m) are recalled, with Daniel Amartey (£3.9m) and Marc Albrighton (£5.2m) dropping to the bench.

LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, McGinn, Traore, Barkley, El Ghazi, Watkins.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Thomas, Ndidi, Tielemans, Castagne, Maddison, Barnes, Vardy.

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 25 SO FAR…

Grealish absent through injury as Castagne returns for Leicester's trip to Villa 2

West Ham United defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the first Premier League game of the day, with Jesse Lingard (£5.9m) continuing his purple patch of form in east London.

Lingard’s goal was his fourth attacking return in as many appearances for the Hammers and turned out to be the match-winner, which looks set to secure him maximum bonus points and a double-digit haul.

Michail Antonio (£6.6m) was passed fit to play and marked his return with an early goal, although his comeback was ever-so-slightly tainted with a second-half booking.

Grealish absent through injury as Castagne returns for Leicester's trip to Villa 3

Tomas Soucek (£5.3m) also picked up a yellow card en route to a one-pointer, with FPL’s most-owned defender, Aaron Cresswell (£5.8m), losing his clean sheet when Lucas Moura (£6.6m) nodded home Gareth Bale‘s (£9.3m) corner.

Soucek and Vladmir Coufal (£4.7m) were involved in separate collisions but recovered to finish the game.

Son Heung-min (£9.5m) and Harry Kane (£11.1m) both blanked but came within inches of a return: the former striking the woodwork late on with a freak, looping touch, with the latter seeing a potential assist go up in smoke in the process.

Kane had also teed the impressive Bale up for a second-half attempt that clipped the bar.

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

1,215 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Everyone still triple captaining Kane?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ha brilliant

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Of course

    3. Lucky Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No, he became something between Brewster and Wickham in one game

    4. fedolefan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Triple captaining Pope

    5. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    6. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not even going to have him

  2. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Kane TC? You're having a laugh!

    1. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lol this!

    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Was just listening to commentary, sounded unlucky not to come away with something. That not right?

      1. Lucky Z
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Should at least have goal + assist

    3. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Well things change in FPL quickly, so there’s no point laughing at something like that. If someone had said Salah would blank 5/6 in a row like he did over Xmas, he would have got so much abuse. Thinking outside the box on this place is considered a massive sin...

      1. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        THIS!!

  3. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What do we think of Kane for the DGW now then? Will be watching Vardy for clues (as in, I may choose Vardy over Kane)

    1. dshv
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe i will bring vardy..

    2. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Done it. He doesnt blank for long. Was afraid at being priced out though lol

  4. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    De Bruyne starting?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Is Pep on here?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Probably

  5. Lucky Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Keeping Grealish for his additional fixtures just for selling him for a hit before DGW

    1. dshv
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You think he will miss the double gw ?

      1. jb1985
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Article says may miss 1st game of the double.

      2. Lucky Z
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Noted above. Missing Leeds.

      3. Salan
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        At least the first match of dgw 26

  6. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    The mods deleted my post about Grealish definitely being injured. It was the day after the deadline, so not much you could do with the news.

    Both those that mocked me, can do one.

    1. fedolefan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Name them and shame them.

    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Did you include a source?

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yes. It was a secondary source which was much more reliable than original source.

    3. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      i believed ,cheers

    4. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 1 month ago

        How did you definitely know though?

        1. Fred54
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          People always scorn at twitter ITKs, but there are some really good ones out there.

      • Salan
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Did you capture the screen to prove this?

    5. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Time to roll out this classic again.

      https://i.imgur.com/bED2Zb3.mp4

    6. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why do I have x2 Spurs players, they make Liverpool look good 🙁

    7. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      20 from 8. Anyone better?

      1. El Matador
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ye me. 24(-8)from 8

      2. R.C
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        20 from 3 here

      3. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Similar

      4. SteJ
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        35 (-8) from 8

      5. fedolefan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Stop bragging.

    8. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Grealish owners, who you getting off the bench for him?

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Stones, if not then DCL.

      2. Firminooooo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He is second on my bench.

      3. Kabayan
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        DCL

      4. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Watkins

      5. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        My ML rival is getting Antonio! Extremely frustrating.

      6. WVA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sold him for Raphina

      7. dshv
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Antonio

      8. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Coufal

    9. elchilangles
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Assuming we don't know how serious the Grealish injury is yet or whether he will be fit by the double???

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Will miss Leeds apparently

    10. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you put the armband on Spurs in the DGW you deserve the 4 points that’s coming for you and nothing more

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        The type of games Kane/Son would haul in tbh.

        1. Salan
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          It's possible, but when did they haul last time?

          1. Qaiss
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Leeds.

      2. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        who you putting it on?

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Bruno or DCL

    11. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Anyone looking at Matheus Pereira to replace Grealish?

      Next 3 GWs;
      Brighton
      Everton
      Newcastle
      Palace

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Won’t play OOP every week, more likely to see the bench

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Whoops wrong Peirera

          1. EmreCan Hustle
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I was actually looking the Leicester Pereira too, thanks for the info 🙂

    12. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Villa will shut up shop here. Another Emi incoming.

    13. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Can see a Martinez 1 pointer in this game.

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        1 pointer more than Pope?

        1. dshv
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Hahahaba this

          1. Gudjohnsen
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Let's see when the game is over.

      2. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Can see them conceding, but he'll make too many saves for a 1-pointer.

    14. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Big test of Villa here - Cash is a massive loss

      Grealish even massiver

      1. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Interesting to see how this affects Martinez

      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Agree and LEI are not that easy to play against

      3. WVA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Can't see them getting anything

    15. Alexis Nonsense
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      In my livefeed Castagne is fielded as a winger in 4-2-3-1

      Really?

    16. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pick one:

      A) Maja + Raphinha
      B) Jorginho + Bamford

      Also, should I BB with Bamford/ Raphinha + Struijk + Vestergaard + 12 DGW players?

      1. Gandalf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        A

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Thanks, BB?

      2. MightyGar
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        A, and BB yes

    17. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      starting Foden and Gundog ahead of Barnes is feeling pretty bad right now, go easy Harvey

    18. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      With no West Ham or Spurs players this was a lucky escape. Kane could easily had a goal or two.

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I didn't watch.. How was son and kane?

        1. EmreCan Hustle
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Kane unlucky not to score.
          Son almost scored a lucky goal.

    19. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Castagne maybe OOP.

    20. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Great. Martinez save after 30 seconds.

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Villa are going to be in for a long afternoon.

    21. TAB
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez
      Cancelo - Mee - Dias - Maguire - Digne
      Bruno - Gundogan - Salah
      Ings - DCL

      Pope Bamford - Raphinha - Stephens

      A) Ings, Salah & Stephens > Kane, Son & Maddison (-8) (BB)
      B) Ings & Salah > Kane(TC) & Son (-4)
      C) Ings > Kane(TC)

    22. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez save

    23. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez 1 save already .
      Seriously ?

    24. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Chilwell, Grealish and Ings
      To
      Castagne, Barnes and Kane(c) for a hit?

    25. SomeoneKnows
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez (Pope)
      Cancelo, Stones, Dallas (Coufal, Douglas)
      Salah, Bruno, Son, Gundogan (Grealish*)
      DCL, Bamford, Ings

      Got 2FT + 1.6 itb plan was to do:
      Ings + Pope > Kane + Forster

      Given Spurs poor performance and the latest Grealish injury, any alternative transfer suggestions?

    26. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No CS here for Villa.

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Villa will be like palace without zaha!
        I hope not thou

    27. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why dont we just start every villa game with Martinez haul

    28. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Let's go Targett and Watkins!