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.

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1,215 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Okay wouldn’t mind Gundo no show with Barnes first sub (again!) got last last week with him coming on for Antonio

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      stop benching him like why

  2. Slurpy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    TC Barnes?

  3. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I might just keep Bamford and Raphina against this Villa side on my BB.

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

      My thoughts as well with Bamford

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

      Yup

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

      Without Grealish carrying the ball and getting them up the pitch with possession, they look meek

  4. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Might captain Harvey in the DGW

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

      Was just thinking this.

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

    Said a while back

    Triple Leeds haul on Bb

  6. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy and Maddison/ Barnes over Kane and son is tempting now.

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

      Could be

    2. estheblessed
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      More affordable. I've already got Barnes. Might get Son just for spurs cover

    3. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sure is. Might ditch Son and get Madds and Vardy along with Kane, he looked sharp today and could have had a haul.

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sound plan

    4. MARVELLUS
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      But what about GW29? Might go Kane and Barnes

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Forgot about that! Need one for sure. Maybe Kane and Maddison

  7. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How has vardy an assist?

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

      His shot was saved, Barnes followed up

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

    Today has actually changed my mind...

    A) DCL, Barnes, Ings
    B) Kane, Lookman, Watkins -4

    A is looking clearly better.

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

      I was going to get Watkins in but without Jack may just completely skip Villa.

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

    Guys vardy assist what the hell?

    1. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Was wondering
      Have maddison
      Thought first shot doesnt count, bowen earlier eg.

      Vardy?

      1. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Bowen crossed it

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      harvey barnes goal came from his shot's rebound. pretty standard stuff

      1. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ah
        Thought was madison who shot

        So was bowens not classed as a shot. They determined it a cross rhe keeper saved?

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

      It was Madison right?

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

      That's a Vardy FPL assist clear as day.

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

    Matt Cash is needed here ... Barnes runs a party that side

  11. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lateriser sold Barnes Antonio Tarkowski Mee and DCL on his wildcard this gw

    Ouchh. Thats gotta hurt

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

      WTH selling Barnes?

    2. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He used up all his luck last season.

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

      The man is beyond a late rise at this point

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

      Built a team all for a bench boost that won’t get as many points as those players. BB is the most overrated chip in the game.

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

      I don't understand why he sold Barnes and DCL before dgw26.

      Directly speaking I'd describe this is a mistake.

  12. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Barnes & Maddison double an option now?

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

      I asked this many times, I am doing Son Raphinha > them

  13. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I see MaddyBarnes already doing their thing.

  14. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you consider Watkins a priority for DGW26 now that Grealish is out?

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

      No

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

      How long is he out for?

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

    Chilwell Grealish Ings out. Own Son.

    23.8m to spend

    Pick 3 from Leicester defenders, Leicester attackers, and Kane

  16. 824545201
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it even worth downgrading Sterling to Gundo in order to get Kane, or just go Bamford to DCL?

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling>Gundo is not a downgrade, so Yes.

  17. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ffs Barnes and maddy again

    Of course rashford and sterling will do nothing

  18. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Results going good for GW26. Not as many will get Kane, Villa defense etc now, which I am happy to get.

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

      Martínez’ goalkeeping has papered over the cracks for Villa defence...

    2. markus808
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Unexpected ending

  19. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do we have mews pn grealish?

  20. Davekitson
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Those with a WC left who aren't using it for DGW26, what's your reason? Just debating whether to save it

    1. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Have 10 dgw players already and planning on TC

    2. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I already have 10 DGW26 players, full team with 1ft. Rather when more trouble or much fewer dgw players later. Blank29 comes into the picture also. Not sure I have to get Kane or others, might wanna get Leicester players though. I guees it all depends on each team

  21. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Salah to Barnes ? How else to get Leicester here? Doing Ings to Kane.

    Martinez (Areola)
    Cancelo Stones Digne (Mee Dallas)
    Salah Bruno Son Gundo (Raph)
    Ings* Watkins Bamford

    2FT 0 ITB after getting Kane

  22. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anybody tell me why vardy's awarded an assist?

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

      Shot saved followed up finished. This has been the rules for forever no?

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

    Pot-committed with my Villains... Can't get rid with DGWs coming.

  24. aborg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ffs the second time in a row I bench Barnes and he hauls.
    Hope Gundo and either one of Stones or Cancelo misses out to get him from second on the bench.

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

    I’m happy with Barnes, I’m ecstatic with Martinez not getting a jammy haul when villa are battered but don’t concede the goals they should

  26. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Imagine Rodgers hadn't benched Barnes during the early season, such a fraud.

  27. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ditching Salah for Maddison.

  28. DangerFC
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    On wildcard. Pick 2 of the following:
    A. Vardy
    B. Watkins
    C. DCL

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      AC

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

      AC

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

      Lovely. That was my thinking seems fairly straightforward. I have kane aswell. I am going for madison over salah aswell.

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

    Count your lucky stars Justin is injured. This was a guaranteed 15 pointer for him.

  30. marcos11
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Need a Gundo no show now with Barnes first on my bench

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

      Same

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

      same, really did feel like a mistake as I was doing it, but missing a Gundog haul would have felt worse

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

      Same....after everyone telling me i was mad for benching 3 x City!!

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

      Gundo no show would be beautiful. Really feel like Mitchell is gonna step up with a 15 pointer on Monday.