Key FPL injuries and bans ahead of Gameweek 31
For FPL managers the availability of their players, both in terms of FPL injuries and bans, is an important part of their Gameweek preparations. Knowing which players are available is key to FPL success, we take a run through key FPL injuries and bans ahead of Gameweek 31.
International break is often a moment for managers to reflect on their FPL teams. Over the international break FPL managers have been conscious of injuries as well as covid illnesses.
Below are the key FPL injuries and bans as we know them so far. However, there will be further Press Conferences on Friday ahead of the weekends action. For the most up to date information keep an eye on Fantasy Football Scout social media and website.
FPL INJURIES
Players to monitor ahead of Gameweek 31
Arsenal
Takehiro (Arsenal) – Calf injury Missed the match against Wolves on 24/2 after reinjuring his calf. Has been sidelined since and missed for the Aston Villa game on 19/3 as the club carefully handle the recurring issue..
Aston Villa
Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa) – Knee injury Substituted in the game against Liverpool on 11/12 with a knee injury. Has since undergone surgery and was initially ruled out for 12-16 weeks.
Burnley
Ben Mee (Burnley) – Knee injury Suffered a knock to his knee in the match against Leicester on 1/3 and was eventually substituted despite initially continuing. Has been sidelined since with fibula damage.
Chelsea
Andreas Christensen (Chelsea) – Muscle injury Substituted with what appeared to be a muscular injury in the match against Lille on 16/3. Hasn’t featured for club or country since.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) – Achilles injury Struggling with an Achilles injury and missed out against Newcastle on 13/3. Back in training as of 15/3 but missed the FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough on 19/3.
Reece James (Chelsea) – Muscle injury Picked up a muscular problem against Burnley on 5/3 and has been sidelined since. Back in training but missed the FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough on 19/3. James also withdrew from the England squad.
Crystal Palace
Wilf Zaha (Palace) – Hamstring injury Suffered hamstring discomfort in Ivory Coast’s match against France on 25/3. His national team coach has suggested he may have a grade I/II hamstring injury
Michael Olise (Palace) – Foot injury Withdrew from the France under-21 squad on 27/3 because of inflammation in his foot
Leeds
Diego Llorente (Leeds) – Back injury Suffered a back spasm against Wolves on 18/3 and will work on his recovery over the international break.
Illan Meslier (Leeds) – Hip injury Suffered a “hip contusion” against Wolves on 18/3 but his manager doesn’t think the issue is too serious. A club update on 27/3 said that the goalkeeper is expected to be fit for the Southampton game on 2/4.
Leicester
Marc Albrighton (Leicester) – Groin Injury Substituted in the Europa League tie against Rennes on 17/3 with a groin injury. Missed the Brentford game on 20/3.
Manchester United
Edinson Cavani (Man United) – Calf injury Limped out of Argentina’s match against Chile on 30/3 with a reported calf strain.
Norwich
Brandon Williams (Norwich) – Ankle injury Was reported to have been omitted from the England under-21 squad for the March internationals because of an ankle problem.
Max Aarons (Norwich) – Hamstring injury Not part of the England under-21 squad in the March internationals because of a hamstring issue that needs to be assessed.
Newcastle
Martin Dubravka (Newcastle) – Illness Withdrew from the Slovakia squad over the March international break because of an illness.
Fabian Schar (Newcastle) – Muscle injury Withdrew from the Switzerland squad on 24/3 with an adductor problem.
Spurs
Oliver Skipp (Spurs) – Ruled out of the FA Cup tie against Brighton on 5/2 with a groin injury. Still sidelined for the West Ham game on 20/3 but aiming to return after the March international break.
Ben Davies (Spurs) – Thigh injury Withdrew from the Wales squad on 27/3 as a precaution after feeling tightness in his thigh. He should be available for the match against Newcastle on 3/4.
Wolves
Pedro Neto (Wolves) – Foot injury Missed the last two Premier League matches, however he will return to full training over the March international break.
Potential FPL options with longer term FPL injuries and bans
Arsenal
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) – Muscle injury Missed the Aston Villa game on 19/3 with a muscle problem and was ruled out for “a few weeks” by his manager
Aston Villa
Kortney Hause (Aston Villa) – Abdominal injury Ruled out of the Arsenal game on 19/3 with an abdominal issue but no timeframe has been placed on his return.
Brighton
Jeremy Sarmiento (Brighton) – Hamstring injury Substituted with a hamstring injury in the match against West Ham on 1/12. Expected out for between three to four months.
Adam Webster (Brighton) – Groin Injury Has suffered a setback in his recovery.
Burnley
Gudmundsson (Burnley) – Illness Ruled out for “weeks” on 3/2 after it was revealed he had surgery following appendicitis.
Matej Vydra (Burnley) – Hernia Ruled out for “weeks” on 3/2 after undergoing hernia surgery. Progressing well and working on the grass but remains sidelined as of 3/3.
Erik Pieters (Burnley) – Knee injury Taken off in the match against Crystal Palace on 26/2 after taking a knock to his knee and has been sidelined since. Weeks away from a return as of 3/3.
Chelsea
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) – Knee injury Substituted in the Champions League win over Juventus on 23/11 with a partial injury to his ACL. Initially ruled out for six weeks on 26/11 but it later transpired that he would require surgery and miss the rest of 2021/22.
Crystal Palace
Nathan Ferguson (Crystal Palace) – Hamstring injury Ruled out of the Norwich game on 9/2 with a supposedly minor injury. A hamstring issue was since confirmed and he faces an absence of between five and six weeks.
Everton
Abdoulaye Doucoure (Everton) – Everton confirmed on 19/10 Doucoure has suffered a foot injury and will be assessed to determine the period of absence.
Ben Godfrey (Everton) – Hamstring injury
Yerry Mina (Everton) – Thigh injury Sustained a thigh injury in the match against Newcastle on 8/2. Ruled out for 8-10 weeks.
Leicester
Jamie Vardy (Leicester) – Knee injury Suffered a knee injury in the match against Leeds on 5/3 and was ruled out for around 3-4 weeks.
Danny Ward (Leicester) – Knee injury Ruled out for a number of weeks on 16/3 after undergoing knee surgery. His manager thinks he won’t return until near the end of the season.
Ndidi (Leicester) – Knee injury Substituted in the Europa League tie against Rennes on 17/3 with a medial knee injury. Looks set to be sidelined for “a few weeks”.
Leeds
Junior Firpo (Leeds) – nee injury Suffered an MCL injury in the match against Aston Villa on 10/3 and was stretchered off. Ruled out for 3-5 weeks
Tyler Roberts (Leeds) – Hamstring injury Suffered a hamstring strain expected back 1/6.
Patrick Bamford (Leeds) – Foot injury Suffered a foot injury against Wolves on 18/03. An update from the club on 27/3 confirmed that he had ruptured his plantar fascia and would be out for a minimum of six weeks.
Liverpool
Trent Alexaner-Arnold (Liverpool) – Hamstring injury Ruled out for “weeks” with a hamstring injury in 18/3. No exact timeframe has been placed on his recovery but he will miss England’s March internationals.
Man City
Reuben Dias (Man City) – Hamstring injury Ruled out for 4-6 weeks with a hamstring injury picked up in the FA Cup tie against Peterborough on 1/3.
Newcastle
Callum Wilson (Newcastle) – Muscle injury Substituted with a muscle injury in the match against Man Utd on 27/12. His manager thinks the issue might be serious.
Kieran Trippier (Newcastle) – Foot injury Substituted with a foot injury against Aston Villa on 13/2. A scan revealed a fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot and he has undergone surgery. Aiming to return before the end of the season.
Spurs
Ryan Sessegnon (Spurs) – Hamstring injury Suffered a muscular injury in the match against Everton on 7/3 and was substituted at half-time. Ruled out until after the March international break on 10/3. His manager said on 18/3 that Spurs would wait another four weeks to do another scan and the player could rejoin training at that point if all is well.
Japhat Tanganga (Spurs) – Knee injury Missed the FA Cup tie against Brighton on 5/2 with a knee injury and has been sidelined since. Subsequently ruled out for the season after undergoing surgery. Should be back for the pre-season of 2022/23.
Watford
Ismailia Sarr (Watford) – Hamstring injury Needed treatment at the end of the match against Manchester United on 26/2 and was ruled out “for the foreseeable future” with a hamstring strain.
West Ham
Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham) – Knee injury Was substituted against Liverpool on 7/11 after needing stitches to an eye wound, however Moyes also revealed after full-time that he had taken a knock. A scan later revealed that he had suffered an ACL injury.
Vlad Coufal (West Ham) – Hernia Coufal missed the Newcastle game on 19/2 after experiencing problems with his hernia. It was confirmed on 24/2 that he had undergone groin surgery and was set for a “few weeks” out.
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) – Achilles injury Taken off with a suspected Achilles injury against Liverpool on 5/3. His manager is unsure of the severity of the issue but was concerned that the player couldn’t put weight on his heel. Has been sidelined since and will “probably” be out until after the March international break.
Wolves
Nelson Semado (Wolves) – Muscle injury Limped off in the Arsenal game on 24/2 with an apparent muscle issue and has been missing since. Ruled out for at least one month on 4/3
Reuben Neves (Wolves) – Knee injury Suffered a knee ligament injury against Leeds on 18/3. Ruled out until May on 23/3.
For more in-depth details on FPL injuries and bans, check out the Fantasy Football Scout website:
Bans
Raul Jimenez (Wolves) – 2 Match Ban Sent off against Leeds on 18/3 and will now miss two matches due to this being his second red card of the season.
Allen (Everton) – 3 Match Ban Suspended for three matches after being sent off for serious foul play on 17/3.
Nathan Collins (Burnley) – 1 Match Ban 1 Match Ban Suspended for one match after being sent off for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity on 12/3.
Check out the Fantasy Football Scout suspension tightrope. It will keep you up-to-date on which of your players are at risk of a ban:
https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/category/suspensions/
For even more team news ahead of the deadline check out the Fantasy Football Scout Press Conference round-ups. They’ll provided the latest manager comments on FPL injuries and bans. You can find these on site and on twitter.
Not sure what to expect form the Gameweek 31 matches? We have taken a look at the underlying stats for each of the matches.
