Injury Doubts: Gameweek 31 Wildcard
Last week FPL Family’s Sam shared her early thoughts ahead of her Gameweek 31 Wildcard. She gives us an update on how the chip is going and how the international fixtures so far have effected her thoughts.
Wildcard’s are my favourite FPL chip. I love the strategising, trying to fit too many premium assets in to my squad budget and getting the balance of key players and differentials correct. Raul Jimenez’s Gameweek 30 red card made for the perfect backdrop to pressing the Wildcard button.
Last weekend I shared my thoughts on the key players that I was planning to target with this Wildcard. A week on and the international fixtures are in play, as well as having had all of the Gameweek 30 fixtures as well as the FA Cup quarter finals. There are players who I thought would be an important part of my Wildcard who I am now carefully monitoring through injury.
Gameweek 31 Wildcard: Injury doubts
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been in my FPL team since Gameweek 1. He is a player who I would never have considered selling, I likely still won’t. However, Liverpool’s announcement that Alexander-Arnold has suffered a hamstring injury and will be out for weeks has cast a doubt.
Alexander-Arnold’s teammate Andy Robertson is £1.2m cheaper than the English international. That £1.2m would make a big difference across the rest of my FPL squad. Robertson’s form has also been excellent, having returned in all of his last eight Premier League matches. Four of those eight returns have been double digit hauls.
Owning a Liverpool defender is key to my Gameweek 31 Wildcard planning. This means that the injury to Alexander-Arnold has somewhat thrown my plans. I will be making a very last minute decision on Alexander-Arnold depending on Klopp’s Gameweek 31 press conference. If he is fit for Gameweek 31 or due back for Gameweek 32 then I will hold, however if he is out for a couple of Gameweeks then a swap to Robertson could be wise with only eight Gameweeks left of the season.
Aaron Ramsdale
Arsenal goalkeeper Ramsdale has been a great own this season. The Gunners fixtures until the end of the season also looks good to continue to invest in the goalkeeper. However, Ramsdale muscle injury means he is currently flagged in the game.
Aaron Ramsdale has got an injury, he had an injury in his oblique muscle and he will be out for a few weeks
Arteta on Ramsdale
With only eight Gameweeks left if Ramsdale isn’t going to be available after international break then I likely won’t keep him on Wildcard. There are other goalkeepers who have good fixtures to the end of the season and therefore could replace Ramsdale in my squad. However, I will keep him until Ramsdale’s Gameweek 31 press conference.
Reece James
If James is available for Gameweek 31, as is being projected, then I will want him in my FPL team.
I currently have Rudiger in my FPL team draft, however I would prefer the Chelsea wingback. For me on Wildcard however, having a fully fit team is key and therefore if James is still a doubt I will likely play it safe with Rudiger. I will be keeping a close eye on Chelsea’s training photos as well as listing to Tuchel’s update on James ahead of Gameweek 31.
Current Gameweek 31 Wildcard draft
This draft doesn’t include Mo Salah.
This will change before the Gameweek 31 deadline. I have the money in the bank to swap Son Heung-Min for the Egyptian. However, I am waiting on some other decisions before I sell Son. There are other changes that I could make which allow me to keep Son and Kane and own Salah. I have owned Son for a few weeks and therefore have budget invested in him. This means that before I commit to sell him on my Wildcard I want to be sure that I won’t change my mind!
Looking ahead at Gameweek 31? We have taken a look at what to expect from the Gameweek 31 fixtures.
