09 Nov, 2024

Game Week 11: Injury Watch

Game week 11 Injury Watch

Declan Rice (£6.3m – MID):

Rice is a legitimate doubt for Arsenal’s matchup against Chelsea on Sunday. The English midfielder missed Arsenal’s Champions League tie against Inter Milan midweek with a broken toe.

Mikel Arteta informed the media on Friday morning that Rice “I have to be very vague on that one because there’s no clarity if he’s going to be fit or not on the weekend… What I can say is he hasn’t trained yet and it’s not clear if he’ll be available or not to play.”

The prognosis on Rice doesn’t sound good, and while Arteta’s words when it comes to injuries are hard to parse, a fractured or broken toe is a pretty serious injury for a footballer. I know… groundbreaking analysis there.

The larger impact of this injury for FPL managers is the effect Rice being out will have on Arsenal’s already struggling defence against a potent Chelsea attack.

Rice should not be near anyone’s fantasy teams anyway, but on the off chance you do own him, you will need to avoid starting him this week.

Estimated return: Gameweek 12 vs Nottingham Forest

Start, hold or replace: Replace

Potential replacements: Semenyo (£5.6m) Smith-Rowe (£5.7m) or Rogers (£5.4m)

Martin Odegaard (£8.2m – MID):

Arsenal’s talisman in midfield has been sorely missed. His return is a huge boost for FPL managers that own Saka, Martinelli or Havertz as Odegaard should ignite Arsenal’s attack.

The Norwegian was out injured for an extended period, and fantasy managers should wait before bringing Odegaard into their teams, as he may need time to gain match fitness and find peak form.

Estimated return: Gameweek 11 vs Chelsea

Start, hold or replace: Hold

Potential replacements: N/A

Eddie Nketiah (£5.9m – FWD):

With Eberechi Eze already out injured, Nketiah looked to play a key role in Crystal Palace’s attack, but he has now sustained a hamstring injury that will sideline him until at least after the international break.

Oliver Glasner speaking on the injury said ‘He felt it during the game, something in his hamstring, but he was fighting for the team until almost the end of the game. Now he has problems with his hamstring, and let’s see how long it will take.”

Estimated return: Gameweek 12 vs Aston Villa

Start, hold or replace: Replace

Potential replacements: Wissa (£6.0m), Raul (£5.8m) or Welbeck (£5.9m)

Cole Palmer (£11.0m – MID):

There have been concerns about Palmer’s availability for the clash against Arsenal on Sunday after picking up a knock resulting from a Lisandro Martinez tackle last weekend. Palmer missed Chelsea’s Conference League tie on Thursday, but indications seem to be positive regarding his availability Sunday.

Enzo Maresca revealed Friday that “He’s getting better… (Just because) he can walk and have dinner it doesn’t mean he is completely fit but we still have two days to prepare the game… Hopefully we can have him for the session at least Saturday and then we’ll take a decision.”

FPL managers that own Palmer should feel comfortable starting him in Gameweek 11.

Estimated return: Gameweek 11 vs Arsenal

Start, hold or replace: Start

Potential replacements: N/A

Jack Grealish (£6.4m – MID):

Grealish remains out injured and is unavailable for Saturday’s matchup against Brighton. He has however been selected in England’s squad for the international break, suggesting, as Pep has stated, that his return is imminent.

Estimated return: Gameweek 12 vs Spurs

Start, hold or replace: Replace

Potential replacements: Semenyo (£.5.6m), Smith-Rowe (£5.7m) or Johnson (£6.7m)

John Stones (£5.3m – DEF):

Stones will not be in City’s squad against Brighton this weekend and his injury could potentially be one that keeps him sidelined for an extended period. It is a foot injury and Stones, unlike Grealish, has not been included in the England squad, suggesting this could be something that keeps Stones out post international break.

Given Stones’ injury seems serious, the depth of Man City’s defensive options and their difficult upcoming fixture list, FPL managers would be wise to replace Stones in their teams.

Estimated return: Gameweek 13 vs Liverpool

Start, hold or replace: Replace

Potential replacements: Konate (£5.3m), Hall (£4.3m) or Mazraoui (£4.5m)

Cristian Romero (£5.1m – DEF):

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou is hopeful that Romero is available for Spurs’ game against Ipswich this weekend. Speaking on his vice-captain, Ange stated “Cristian, we’ll see how he goes in the next couple of days.

The idea is to try and get him out there and train, he’s pretty keen to. He has a chance for the weekend.” It seems likely Romero will feature against arguably the worst attacking side in the Premier League.

Estimated return: Gameweek 11 vs Ipswich

Start, hold or replace: Start

Potential replacements: N/A

Richarlison (£6.8m – FWD):

The Brazilian forward, who just returned from a long injury lay-off, will now be out for another extender period. Ange Postecoglou was sad to revealed that he is “reticent to put (a time frame on) it but he’ll be out for a significant amount of time. It’s a significant hamstring injury.”

Estimated return: Gameweek 16-18

Start, hold or replace: Replace

Potential replacements: Wood (£6.5m) or Cunha (£6.7m)

By: Ahsan Ejaz

Last Updated: 09/11