Dugout Discussion

The reason for Grealish’s absence as Mitrovic is recalled for Villa v Fulham

Having returned to full training over the March international break, Jack Grealish (£7.5m) was expected to make a playing comeback for Aston Villa’s clash with Fulham this afternoon.

The Villa talisman is absent from the hosts’ matchday squad, however, with Dean Smith reporting that the England international pulled up in training on Saturday.

The Villa boss said:

He’s trained this week and was looking really good but he had some discomfort yesterday and pulled out after 10 minutes in training. We erred on the side of caution as we must do. He was all up for playing [until then].

The hosts will be looking to improve on their sub-per record without Grealish: they have scored on just three occasions in the six matches he has missed.

Smith makes one change to the side that started the 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last time out.

Anwar El Ghazi (£5.3m) comes in for Trezeguet (£5.2m) in the Villa head coach’s only tweak to his starting XI.

Scott Parker has made four alterations to the side that started the Cottagers’ defeat to Leeds United a fortnight ago.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.5m) is the most notable name among the quartet of returnees, with Josh Maja (£5.5m) dropping to the bench.

Parker said of the Serb’s recall:

His form for his country has played a big part. The last game in terms of selection [in Gameweek 29], it was nip and tuck, really, he came off the back of very good work, training-wise. Well deserves his chance.

Bobby Decordova-Reid (£5.3m), Kenny Tete (£4.3m) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.9m) are also additions to the line-up, with Antonee Robinson (£4.4m), Ivan Cavaleiro (£5.3m) and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (£4.5m) dropping to the bench.


Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Sanson, Traore, Watkins, El Ghazi

Fulham XI: Areola, Tete, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Aina, Reed, Lemina, Reid, Loftus-Cheek, Lookman, Mitrovic.

710 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Guru Mediation
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Surely that was a catch by Martinez and not a save? (Lol)

  2. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    That Watkins goal just dragged me on to a red arrow! Grrrr 🙁

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah he is highly owned and coming from many benches too

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        The incarnation of Justin!

  3. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Keinan Davis, that's his name

  4. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Watkins scores and comes from my bench, Martinez 6th save. Is Bruno going to be quiet and get yellow?!?

  5. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    90 +2
    Keinan Davis (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.

    Hope for a goal from the free kick is there

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You've already got enough jam off Davis this week

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It's not jam It's squad game 😉

  6. Cak Juris
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Choose the best option for GW 31:
    A. Salah + Kabak/Phillips (Salah Captain)
    B. Jota + TAA (Gundogan Captain)

  7. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Final whistle

    8 pts from 2 players without having Watkins. I am happy.

    What was your score from this game only ?

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      9. Watkins and Targett. Pretty happy with that.

    2. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      7 from 1

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      4 for Marty.
      0 from jacky.

    4. Guru Mediation
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      11 Ollie and Emi

      1. Bram
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        +1

    5. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      113 from 2 - it’s ok I guess

    6. lordkippe
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      0 from 0

  8. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Watkins sitting on the bench after bale 1 pointer 🙁

    1. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Same same, I think Jose has it in for us

  9. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    All I need now is to see Shaw benched to round off today .

  10. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Watkiiinsss yahaahaa

  11. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Ffs Watkins killing my green

  12. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Watkins and Salah owners finally get some joy

  13. C_G
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    54 with 3 (Bruno, Antonio, Cressy) to go, captain played, average or below avg?

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hmmm I wonder.....

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Above

    3. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      That’s a cracking score this week

    4. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      54 with same 3 to go!

    5. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Especially since players to go on livefpl will be overstated with so many popular picks missing out and likely duds/no shows replacing them

    6. lordkippe
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      45 with AWB, Bruno & DCL to go for me

    7. grumpyman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      39 with Bruno, DCL, Cresswell, Lingard, Digne and Antonio to go.

  14. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Watkins 1 bonus yuhuuu

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Small mercies. I was applauding a Forster extra save point earlier. The things this game does to us.

  15. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Missed the game..
    Looking at bbc "Mings' fluffed backpass gifts Mitrovic opener"

    Was it as bad as it sounds? If so, thanks Tyrone for ruining my double digit marti haul Tyrone!

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes it was.

    2. Hooky
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It was like he was back playing for Yate Town again

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        He should be.

  16. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thanks a lot bale and Jose, now need a Bruno, lingard or DCL no-show

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Doubt it will happen.

      1. TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Unfortunately, yes

    2. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      only chance you've got is to head up north and a knee to the DCL groin

  17. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Now time for Trossard to shine

  18. Flair
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bruno blank would be nice but at least a haul is a tenth as damaging as it could have been

    1. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Why blank hasn’t your capt played

      I’m screwed as have trossard ,vletman from last week for blank city

  19. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    MAN UTD TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Brighton: Henderson, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Fred, Pogba, Fernandes, Greenwood, Rashford, Cavani.
    Subs: De Gea, Diallo, James, Matic, Williams, Van de Beek, Tuanzebe, McTominay.

    BRIGHTON TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Man Utd: Sanchez, White, Dunk, Veltman, Bissouma, Lallana, Moder, Gross, Trossard, Welbeck, Maupay.
    Subs: Steele, Karbownik, Mac Allister, Jahanbakhsh, Alzate, Izquierdo, Propper, Caicedo, Zeqiri.

  20. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bale robbing me of veltman masterclass 3rd on my bench

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ouch

  21. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Shaw Digne and DCL hauls and top 10K dream is still alive

  22. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    WTF! I thought only 5-10% own Watkins. He killed my rank with EO over 40%

  23. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Shaw masterclass needed and a Bruno blank

  24. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pogba starts. Bad news for Bruno?

  25. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Last hurraah for Aguero? Bamford get the feck out of my team...

  26. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Need Another Shawl today.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah, 15pter minimum is needed

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Trossard could say otherwise

  27. Donny_Rover
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Wildcard active, which of these do you reckon is the best set to go with?

    A) Sanchez, Azpi, Neto, Iheanacho
    B) Forster, Rudiger, Maddison, Watkins

    Rest of squad likely to be:
    Mendy
    TAA Dias Coady Coufal
    Salah Jota Son Raphinha
    Kane Vardy

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B with Neto over Maddison?

      1. Donny_Rover
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I think Leicester’s next 4 fixtures are massively appealing for an attacking double up. Just not sure whether to go Iheanacho (realistically how long can that purple patch continue) or Maddison alongside Vardy. If I did just go with Vardy I could have Azpi over Rudiger who is seemingly more nailed on.

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wait with the WC maybe ?

  28. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is this worth -4?

    Raph Tierney ➡ Jota Philips

    Assuming Tierney out

  29. threeputt
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Why am I seeing so many wc'ing this week with the potential for more dgws to come ?

    1. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Fixture swing - dumping Leeds, Avl, Bri etc

  30. CroatianHammer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Utd Report had that XI on the nose... can't have been a guess. Useless for FPL, handy for the exchanges