Dugout Discussion

Injury-hit sides in action in two early-evening Double Gameweek 26 kick-offs

The narrative surrounding the two early kick-offs in the Premier League on Wednesday evening is as much about the players who aren’t involved as those who make the four starting XIs.

The most-bought player of Gameweek 26 is one of the most noteworthy absentees: Harvey Barnes (£6.9m) was transferred in by over a million Fantasy Premier League managers ahead of Saturday’s deadline but has now been ruled out for around six weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

His club, Leicester City, are also without James Maddison (£7.3m) and Jonny Evans (£5.5m), among others, for their clash with a Burnley side who are no strangers to an injury crisis.

In the other game, Aston Villa continue to be without Jack Grealish (£7.6m) for their trip to a short-on-numbers Sheffield United.

Evans and Barnes are among three Leicester players who make way from the weekend, with Luke Thomas (£4.2m) also dropping out.

Nampalys Mendy (£4.2m), Daniel Amartey (£3.9m) and Hamza Choudhury (£4.7m) are recalled as Brendan Rodgers sacrifices a bit of width to flood the midfield.

For the Clarets, Chris Wood (£6.2m) returns to the hosts’ line-up and replaces Jay Rodriguez (£5.8m) up top.

At Bramall Lane, budget FPL forward Rhian Brewster (£4.4m) starts in place of Oli McBurnie (£5.6m) in Chris Wilder’s only alteration.

Dean Smith sticks with the same starting XI that began the 1-0 win over Leeds, with Ross Barkley (£5.9m) again only among the substitutes.


Burnley XI: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Brownhill, Westwood, Cork, McNeil, Vydra, Wood.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Castagne, Amartey, Soyuncu, Ricardo Pereira, Tielemans, Mendy, Ndidi, Choudhury, Iheanacho, Vardy.

Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale, Ampadu, Jagielka, Bryan, Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, McGoldrick, Brewster.

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

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766 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Postman Ty
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Solid 10 point Bench Boost #BestChip

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      I was on 10 points from 1 game on bench boost (effectively 7 games on my bench).....

      I’m now on 14 with 1 game to go

      This week really has ground to a halt

    2. DickFranDyke
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Could be worse.

      1. Postman Ty
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Could it? 4 from Pope with 2 blanks, 2 from Bamford, Raphinha, and Dallas who all blanked. I know there's only one doubler in there but there's no chance I get a better bench than that all season. Short of red cards and injuries (Barnes) 2 points per match is bottom of the barrel stuff.

        Actually if Dier misses another game one of them will auto-sub for him.

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Yeah similar here. Pope - Dallas - Raphina - Bamford.

          Villa looked a great fixture going into this week.

          1. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            Having both a Pope and Watkins blank from that match is pretty disappointing. And the complete Leeds blank given the current state of Villa was a shock. The more the week went on the less happy I was having chosen Pope, but the points he got me last week was worth it.

    3. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Same here. Pope - Pereira - Bamford - Dallas.

  2. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Was between Digne, Pereira and Reguilon all week. Went with Pereira which is unfortunate. All will be forgotten if Bruno(TC) hauls!

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Had a stinker so far, but all rests on Bruno TC. I'd probably be happy with an assist.

    2. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Yeah Pereira really couldn't have gone worse. So annoying

  3. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    7 points combined total from Cancelo, Barnes, Raphinha and Pereira. I really cannot believe it.

  4. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Bruno will save the GW, don't worry.

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      You meant to type KANE instead.

  5. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Underwhelming DGW so far

    1. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      That's an understatement lol

  6. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Those last few minutes were scary to watch as a non Martinez owner

  7. Doctor Evil
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Wan B, Shaw, Bruno let’s go!

  8. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Did Pope get a save point in the last minute?

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Yes. Only additional point from 5 in first two games

  9. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Benteke haul incoming the way this week is going.

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      My money is on Townsend

      Ran a poll early today. Oddly the majority had SU scoring.

      The majority also had Palace scoring!

  10. Threat Level Midnight
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Kane (c) for the win?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Son cappers the real winners

  11. SINGH
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Man what a waste of BB. 14 points.

    City and Villa really disappointing.

  12. trinzoo
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Salah / Bruno > (K)DB for free anyone?

    Ofc we need to see performance of the two.

  13. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Martinez 2 Mee 2 Watkins 2

    Sums up my luck

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      You a member of the Mee 2 movement.

      1. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 25 days ago

        Very good!

  14. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Sheffield Utd defence owners unite

    1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      2019/2020 says hi

  15. Rashers
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Sheffield Utd minus Jagielka now too and after a draining second half.

    Ings(c) anyone? A bit too punty perhaps but this season can't get much worse.

    1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      I wouldn't but that means you should hahaha

      1. Rashers
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Ha ha ha 🙂

        Its between him and Gundo. Gundo seems a bit more sensible.

  16. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Just hearing de Gea took the night off for personal reasons, d'oh! One match from two for de Gea, Davies, Stones, Barnes, Sterling... and the week's not done yet, possible more? Honestly!

  17. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 25 days ago

    Bruno playing terrible tonight.

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 25 days ago

      That's not Bruno, it's George Weah's cousin.

  18. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 25 days ago

    That Reguilon benching is so frustrating as an owner and a Son capper.

  19. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 16 days ago

    Number of times I've seen a shot going towards the sidelines is extraordinary high for professional footballers.