Saka, Palmer & Gordon: Latest FPL injury news for Gameweek 26 before Chelsea face Leedsplaceholder image
Saka, Palmer & Gordon: Latest FPL injury news for Gameweek 26 before Chelsea face Leeds | Getty Images
The latest Fantasy Premier League injury news ahead of Gameweek 26 - with updates on Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and more.
No sooner has one Fantasy Premier League gameweek ended, than another begins – we haven’t had to contend with midweek fixtures for a little while, but we’ve got a tranche of them starting on Tuesday night, including a big double for Arsenal. Getting your transfers right will be crucial, but as usual there are injury problems making everything more complicated.
Bukayo Saka is one of several potentially valuable Arsenal assets who could miss time over the course of Gameweek 26, while Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon are among the many other question marks. To make life easier for FPL players everywhere, we’ve pored over the media reports and listened in to the managers’ pre-match press conferences to bring you all the latest FPL injury news for Gameweek 26.
Bukayo Saka among Arsenal doubts as FPL Gameweek 26 approaches
Bukayo Saka: Arsenal play against Brentford on Thursday, which means we won’t get any clarity on Saka’s situation until well after the Tuesday deadline – not that Arteta is likely to provide much clarity anyway, given his press conference track record.
It’s possible that Saka plays both games in Arsenal’s double but unlikely, based on reports concerning the severity of his groin injury. He doesn’t seem to have returned to training as yet and is likely to miss the Brentford match at least. Not only would we not consider signing him, but we’d think hard about selling him. At this point, he’s a gambler’s option.
Martin Ødegaard & Leandro Trossard: So far as we know, Arsenal will be able to field a full-strength defence against Brentford and Wolves, which will encourage many FPL managers, but the attacking options are more limited. Ødegaard will likely be in the matchday squad against Brentford as he is “days” away from a return, according to Arteta, but there have been no hints as to whether Trossard might miss out after being forced off with an injury against Sunderland. We’re completely in the dark on that front heading into the deadline.
Cole Palmer & Reece James: Palmer was taken off an hour into Chelsea’s weekend win over Wolves after scoring a hat-trick and admitted after the match that he was not yet fully fit. That’s led to a lot of questions about whether two games in quick succession might lead him to be rested against Leeds, but he has started every league match he has been available for since Rosenior took charge and seems more likely to be on the bench in the FA Cup next weekend. He may well not play a full 90 minutes, but the new Chelsea coach’s selection policy implies that Palmer starting remains a relatively safe bet. Reece James is a doubt.
Anthony Gordon: Gordon remains a big doubt for Newcastle’s match against Spurs following a hamstring injury, but he hasn’t been ruled out just yet – Eddie Howe told the press that he would “check on [Gordon]” before Tuesday’s game. We suspect he misses out again, but it’s not nailed on by any means.
Crystal Palace & Leeds stars among FPL doubts
Jean-Philippe Mateta: Oliver Glasner confirmed before the weekend that the French forward would miss the game against Burnley while Crystal Palace decide how to handle the knee injury which scuppered his deadline day move to AC Milan. There’s a chance he undergoes surgery – if you haven’t sold already, do so.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: The resurgent striker was “struggling a little bit with illness” over the weekend, according to Daniel Farke, but was well enough to play and score – we suspect he’ll be involved against Chelsea on Tuesday evening, with some scope for him to not get a full 90 minutes. Don’t sign him, but there’s no pressing need to sell, on that basis at least.
Destiny Udogie: The left-back became the latest addition to Spurs’ extraordinarily lengthy queue outside the physio’s suite after an apparent thigh injury sustained in the defeat to Manchester United. He will be assessed ahead of the Newcastle match and seems to be a serious doubt as it stands.
Matz Sels & Murillo: Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Sels won’t be out for long but having missed out this weekend after a groin injury, he remains a significant doubt for Wednesday’s match against Wolves and we probably won’t know his status until it’s too late. The same goes for Murillo, who Sean Dyche said has a “chance” to play.
Jan Paul van Hecke: Van Hecke’s absence over the weekend was described as “precautionary” but the Dutchman has a hamstring issue and may well miss the next two or three games, it seems. There’s not much clarity on his situation but it would be a mild surprise if he was involved in Gameweek 26 based on the limited information that has been made public.
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