Every Friday, Daily Fantasy Focus gives you the definitive lowdown on suspension, illness and injury in the Premier League. Here we round up who’s on the Hitlist for Gameweek 3.
Arsenal
Next Up: Watford (H)
No new injury troubles for the already beleaguered Arsene Wenger, but he can look forward to the starting participation of his returning Euros stars – Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil chief among them. Serge Gnabry, so impressive on Olympics duty, is not yet back with the squad.
Injured: Mertesacker, Gabriel, Jenkinson, Ramsey, Iwobi, Welbeck
N/A: Gnabry
Bournemouth
Next Up: Crystal Palace (A)
Eddie Howe can take some comfort in an almost clean bill of heath – the only current concern being the prolonged return of Tyrone Mings – as he goes in search of the Cherries’ first points of the season in Gameweek 3.
Injured: Mings
Burnley
Next Up: Chelsea (A)
Striker Ashley Barnes continues to recover from a hamstring injury that is likely to keep him out of action until mid-September at the earliest. Liverpool loanee, Jon Flanagan, is meanwhile deemed fully fit to participate against Chelsea this weekend. Whether he can make his way into their sturdy backline is another question.
Injured: Barnes
Chelsea
Next Up: Burnley (H)
Willian is the high profile touch and go case at Stamford Bridge at Conte’s boys prepare to face Burnley. Their player of the season last term is struggling with a calf issue but will in all probability get the nod for the right wing slot when Saturday comes.
Injured: Zouma, van Ginkel
50/50: Aina, Willian
Crystal Palace
Next Up: Bournemouth (H)
The Eagles’ stalwart centre-half Damien Delaney is a slight doubt with an ankle knock but should be fit to start the game against Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth. Key squad members such as Joe Ledley, Yohan Cabaye and Jordan Mutch all return to full health and availability ahead of the weekend action.
Injured: Sako,Williams, Kalkai, Campbell
50/50: Delaney
Everton
Next Up: Stoke (H)
Everton contend with a spate of injuries in the full-back and central midfield positions. They are ably covered, with the exception of the right-back position where the talismanic Seamus Coleman struggles with an ankle injry.
Injured: Besic, Browning, Pennington, Coleman
50/50: Gibson, McCarthy, Cleverley
Hull City
Next Up: Manchester United (H)
The song remains much the same for Hull City, with Manchester United on the cards this Saturday. Big names such as McGregor and Dawson are set to miss at least another two months, but the Tigers have managed their absence capably and will seek to claim another scalp against Mourinho’s men.
Injured: McGregor, Dawson, Odubajo, Bruce, Maguire
50/50: Tymon, Luer
Leicester City
Next Up: Swansea (H)
The champions have been hit by sizeable blows, with injuries sustained by Jeffrey Schlupp – muscle strain – and perhaps more damaging, Nampalys Mendy. The latter was bought at N’Golo Kante’s would-be replacement but the Foxes will do without his services until the second week in September at least.
Injured: Schlupp, Mendy
Liverpool
Next Up: Tottenham Hotspur (A)
Jurgen Klopps’ worries – if he actually carries any – will be alleviated in a big way by the return of the electric Sadio Mane following his absence in Gameweek 2. League Cup goalscorer Divock Origi meanwhile, has sustained a cramp but retains a 75% chance of being fit to face Spurs at White Hart Lane.
Injured: Karius, Sakho, Gomez, Ojo
50/50: Lucas, Can, Origi
Manchester City
Next Up: West Ham (H)
Wonderkind Kelechi Iheanacho is a slight doubt with a muscle strain but will likely find a place on Guardiola’s bench. Otherwise, it’s the case of the same faces struggling for fitness with Kompany (thigh), Sagna (hamstring) and Toure (general fitness) the most experienced among them.
Injured: Kompany, Sagna, Gundogan, Sane
50/50: Toure, Iheanacho
Manchester United
Next Up: Hull (A)
Jose Mourinho is granted pretty much a clean bill of health going into Saturday’s trip to Hull. With his players in the ideal condition, expect United to extend their impressive opening form.
Middlesbrough
Next Up: West Brom (A)
Midfield duo Martin de Roon and Grant Leadbitter remain out of contention for the next two weeks at least while ex-Manchester United fullback Fabio’s prognosis is somewhat lengthier. Brad Guzan’s spell between the sticks may also last a little longer as Victor Valdes recovers from his hamstring complaint.
Injured: Friend, Fabio, de Roon, Leadbitter
50/50: Valdes, Friend
Southampton
Next Up: Sunderland (H)
Ryan Bertrand continues his recovery and could make a return against fellow candystripes, Sunderland. New boy Jeremy Pied is likely to remain out of contention for Gameweek 3 as struggles with a knee issue.
Injured: Pied
50/50: Gardos, Bertrand
Stoke City
Next Up: Everton (A)
Veteran goalkeepr Shay Given will remain in between the sticks for Mark Hughes as Jack Butland edges back towards fitness – an ankle injury having kept him out of the season’s opening games. Glen Jonhson, Stephen Ireland and Ibrahim Affelay are the remaining long-term injury doubts.
Injured: Butland, Johnson, Ireland, Afellay
Sunderland
Next Up: Southampton (A)
It’s been a tough start to life at the Stadium of Light for David Moyes. Of course he hasn’t been helped in the defensive department with the likes of Mannone, Kirchoff, O’Shea, Jones and Kone at varying degrees of injury.
Injured: Jones, Kone, Larsson, Cattermole
50/50: Mannone, O’Shea, Kirchhoff, Borini
Swansea City
Next Up: Leicester City (A)
New record signing Borja Baston, is not yet 100% fit and may have to wait until the following Gameweek to break his Swans duck. Left-back Neil Taylor meanwhile, will not be available for selection by Francesco Guidolin as he works his way back to match fitness following Wales’ Euro exploits.
Injured: Taylor, Baston
Tottenham Hotspur
Next Up: Liverpool (H)
Mauricio Pochettino will have to manage without the services of his goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Moussa Dembele for the next four weeks at least as they return from injury and suspension respectively. Korean international Son meanwhile, could be given the go ahead to put in his first minutes of the season against Liverpool.
Injured: Lloris
50/50: Son
Suspended: Dembele
Watford
Next Up: Arsenal (A)
The previously injured Success and suspended Watson will be available for duty as the Hornets make the short trip to North London to face Arsenal. New man, Dja Djedge stays sidelined until Gameweek 4 however.
Injured: Dja Djedge
West Bromwich Albion
Next Up: Middlesbrough (H)
Northern Ireland duo Jonny Evans and Chris Brunt are the only injured parties for Baggies manager Tony Pulis this weekend. Brunt, who missed his nation’s Euro 2016 campaign, is due out through an ACL injury until October at the earliest. Evans meanwhile carries a knock, but will more than likely participate at home to Middlesbrough.
Injured: Brunt
50/50: Evans
West Ham
Next Up: Manchester City (a)
Slaven Bilic was bemoaning Andy Carroll’s propensity for injury after their victory in Gameweek 2 and the Croat goes into a Sunday clash with Man City with no natural player in that position. This is allayed somewhat by the likely returns of Payet and Lanzini to reestablish themselves as the combined creative heartbeat of this side.
Injured: Cresswell, Feghouli, Ayew, Sakho, Carroll
50/50: Payet, Lanzini
There’s over £3000 worth of Guaranteed Pots to be won this weekend on PlayON. Enter your teams for Gameweek 3 now.