With only five Gameweek 28 media gatherings scheduled for Friday, it was much quieter than usual on the Premier League press conference front. However, we have compiled all the key updates from managers whose teams are in action this weekend.
Chelsea manager Graham Potter didn’t provide an update on Reece James, who has been battling an illness but has been seen in training. However, N’Golo Kante, who has been suffering from a hamstring injury for months, could make an appearance this weekend.
Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount are unavailable due to hamstring and abdomen injuries, respectively. Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Armando Broja are also out with knee, head, and ACL injuries, respectively. However, Potter has suggested that Kante has a chance of making it into the squad.
Arsenal‘s manager Mikel Arteta did his Gameweek 28 press conference on Thursday night, with the quotes embargoed until Saturday evening, after the FPL deadline has passed. However, Arteta did provide a mini-update on Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba, who both limped out of Arsenal’s UEFA Europa League tie against Sporting on Thursday. Tomiyasu looks seriously injured, whereas there is no update on Saliba’s injury.
Crystal Palace’s Patrick Vieira’s dismissal means that we are in the dark regarding the team news for their clash against Arsenal. However, Will Hughes and James McArthur missed Crystal Palace’s Double Gameweek 27 due to illness. Vicente Guaita had to sit out the midweek match with Brighton due to a hamstring injury, and it is still uncertain whether he will be fit for the Arsenal match.
Aston Villa’s Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara are still out with hamstring and ankle injuries, respectively. Meanwhile, Leander Dendoncker has failed to recover from a hand injury sustained in a recent domestic incident.
Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan has picked up a fresh injury that will keep him sidelined this weekend. Diego Costa, Hugo Bueno, Chiquinho, and Sasa Kalajdzic are also out with knee injuries. Boubacar Traore, who is back to training, won’t play this weekend due to a groin injury. However, Pablo Sarabia is fit after missing Gameweek 27.
Southampton’s Tino Livramento and Juan Larios have long-term injuries, and Ruben Selles has implied that Kyle Walker-Peters has recovered from the kick he took midweek. Also, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is available after missing both Double Gameweek 27 fixtures due to injury.
Finally, at Bournemouth, Hamed Traore has returned to training this week. However, Marcus Tavernier and Illia Zabarnyi are unavailable till after the international break. There was no update on Junior Stanislas, but Jordan Zemura is fit and available.
Overall, this week’s press conferences have seen some significant injury news that could impact Fantasy Premier League managers. It will be interesting to see how these injuries impact the teams in their upcoming matches.
