Premier League soccer is finally back, with plenty of big matches to enjoy, including the North London derby. However, injury concerns at a number of top clubs mean FPL managers need to choose their squad wisely ahead of Saturday’s deadline.
Express Sport provides a list of popular players who may not be available for Gameweek 12…
Gabriel Magalhães
Arsenal will be without Gabriel, who was injured while playing for Brazil, in the north London derby against Tottenham. He suffered a thigh problem during the second half of a friendly against Senegal during the international break.
The full extent of Gabriel’s injury is yet to be confirmed, but reports suggest he could be sidelined until January. In any case, he won’t be ready to play against the Spurs, and Cristian Mosquera will likely take over in defense.
Antoine Semenyo
Bournemouth suffered an injury scare during the international break with Semenyo omitted from the Ghana squad. It was later revealed that he had suffered a ligament injury, which worsened during his country’s match against Japan.
It remains to be seen whether the high-profile winger will be fit enough to feature in this weekend’s game against West Ham, but FPL’s website gives him a 75 per cent chance of playing.
Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea will be looking to improve the fitness of Fernandes, who left his international duties early. The midfielder said he was suffering from a knee problem and was advised to rest for “two or three weeks”.
If that is the case, it would suggest he will not be ready for this weekend’s game against Burnley. However, there is optimism that his injury is not as bad as initially feared, suggesting a postponement will be necessary.
Ezri Konsa
Konsa left the England squad last week and was not included in the squad for the game against Albania. The defender felt tightness in his calf and left camp to avoid further aggravation of the problem.
Barring a setback in recent days, Konsa is expected to be fit enough to play against Leeds United.
Mohammed Kudus
Tottenham will be keen to have Kudus at their disposal ahead of the north London derby. He was described as a “touch-and-go” player in the recent game against Manchester United, but was ultimately ruled out due to a knock.
The issue forced Kudus to miss two of Ghana’s recent matches, but he could be available for the game against Arsenal if he uses his international break to rest and recover.
