The English Premier League is set to restart on June 17th, and we couldn’t be more excited! Its been a long few months without our beloved Fantasy EPL, and a lot has changed since Leicester beat Aston Villa 4-0 on 9th March. This two part article provides Team Updates for all 20 EPL clubs, and how this may effect your Draft Premier League plans.
Premier League Team Updates
The first of our Draft Premier League Team Updates articles looks into the recent changes at the first 10 Premier League clubs. We’ll be looking at the latest goings-on at Arsenal, the side who’s postponed fixture on 11th March sparked the league suspension, through to Liverpool, the champions elect who must have been thinking the Premier League title was going to be taken away from them! You can find Part Two of our Premier League Team Updates here.
These updates are relating to the latest injury and fitness news, as well as some of the latest off-field news that you may have missed over the last few months. Please let us know if we’ve missed anything – there’s been a lot going on!
Arsenal
When Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta contracted COVID-19 on 12th March, we knew the Premier League season had to be suspended. At this time the fears surrounding the pandemic were really starting to take effect on the UK infrastructure, and it was already getting to the point where large gatherings at sporting events and regular physical contact between players were raising concerns. Luckily Arteta has made a full recovery, and his Arsenal side will kick-off the restart as they face Manchester City on 17th June.
In terms of player fitness, Arsenal should only have one player out injured. Calum Chambers suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament prior to the Premier League being suspended, so he’s going to be out for another few months at least. Lucas Torreira should be back to full fitness after an ankle/foot injury, and summer signing Kieran Tierney should also be back following his most recent injury troubles. The Scottish left-back has struggled during his first season with The Gunners, but hopefully he’ll be able to build up his fitness and confidence during the remainder of the season. Alexandre Lacazette, David Luiz, Nicolas Pepe and Granit Xhaka were pictured breaking social distancing guidelines during the UK Lockdown, but we wouldn’t expect this to impact their playing time.
Aston Villa
The biggest news for Aston Villa in terms of Premier League Team Updates is that their influential Scottish midfielder John McGinn will now be fully fit for the season run-in. The Villains are in a relegation battle, and have sorely missed McGinn since he suffered an injury on 21st December. The midfielder is also a huge Draft Premier League asset on Fantrax, as he averaged 11 points per game up until his injury. If this Chap is currently a free agent in your Draft League, he has to be signed! Elsewhere, club captain Jack Grealish was up to his old tricks at the beginning of the UK Lockdown, but these off-field antics will not impact his playing time. Grealish is a huge asset for Villa, and is essential to their push towards safety. Wesley and Tom Heaton won’t be fit for the restart, so Mbwana Samatta and Pepe Reina will continue in the side.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth are carrying plenty of injuries at the moment as per Premier Injuries. Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld, Charlie Daniels, Steve Cook, Simon Francis, and Chris Mepham are all noted as currently injured. Danjuma, Cook and Mepham look most likely to be ready for the Premier League restart. Young goalkeeper Ramsdale had recently been diagnosed with COVID-19, but his most recent test has returned negative, so he should be back training soon and ready for the restart. Joshua King had been carrying an injury, having missed Gameweek 29, but he’ll be back to full fitness now.
Interestingly, Lloyd Kelly and David Brooks are not noted as currently being injured, so hopefully they are ready to contribute to Bournemouth’s final nine games of the season. Brooks in particular has been sorely missed this season, after making a big impact in his debut Premier League season last term. Take a punt on the young midfielder if he’s a free agent in your Draft League! A really interesting player to mention here is Ryan Fraser. The Scottish midfielder has been pretty disappointing for Fantrax managers this season, and he looks set to leave Bournemouth on a free transfer this summer. It remains to be seen how much game time Fraser will be given, but as he’s one of The Cherries best players, surely he’ll be needed to aide their survival bid.
Brighton & Hove Albion
The main talking point at Brighton during the Premier League suspension has been the positive COVID-19 tests. Three unnamed players have tested positive over the last few weeks, which must have taken its toll on the club and the players. Hopefully all of their players will be safe and fully fit in the run-up to the Premier League restart.
In terms of the specific players who’s prospects have changed since March, young forward Aaron Connolly should be back to full fitness. However, the Irishman wasn’t featuring much prior to the league suspension. Steven Alzate has been due for surgery on a groin injury prior to the suspension, but this was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. His current status is unknown. And finally, Jose Izquierdo is likely to remain out with his long standing knee injury. One player who could have a decent impact during the restart is Solly March. The midfielder started the season well, but struggled with injuries for a lot of the campaign. Now that March has had time to rest his niggling injuries, hopefully he’ll be able to make a big impact during the run-in.
Burnley
Not a great deal to report from Burnley in our Premier League Team Updates. Prior to the league suspension, The Clarets had Matthew Lowton, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Ashley Barnes, and Jay Rodriguez suffering with injuries, but they are all likely to be ready for the Premier League restart. We would expect Phil Bardsley to continue at right-back, which means Lowton will have to wait for his chance to impress Dyche again. Gudmundsson, Barnes and Rodriguez should see their fair share of game time, however. It will be particularly interesting to see if Gudmundsson can prove his fitness – the Togga scoring legend has had an injury hit couple of years. Hopefully he can find some form and fitness during Burnley’s final nine games of this season!
Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan was one of the six players and staff that have recently tested positive for COVID-19. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Chelsea
Now Chelsea are a Premier League side that we have a lot to cover in our Team Updates! Young winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has been in the news a fair bit over the last couple of months. The England international tested positive for COVID-19 back in March, and has recently been arrested on suspicion of rape after a woman was taken to hospital. He was released on bail and then cleared to train with his Chelsea team mates after a coronavirus test proved negative. Hudson-Odoi may be eased back into action once we restart, considering the publicity of these events. Shortly after the positive COVID-19 test for Hudson-Odoi, midfielder Mason Mount was pictured training with West Ham’s Declan Rice, despite Mount being told to self-isolate for 14 days.
Two players that will have much improved prospects upon the Premier League restart are Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic. Abraham failed to start each of the four games prior to the suspension, and appeared as a late substitute during one of these games. The England striker will now be fully fit and raring to go for the restart. Pulisic hasn’t featured for The Blues since Gameweek 21; the American will be keen to finish off his first season with the club strongly. With Pedro and Willian’s contracts both set to expire in the summer, it remains to be seen how much game time they will see during the final nine games of the season. Ruben Loftus-Cheek may also finally be fit enough to feature for The Blues, after being out injured for the past year!
Elsewhere, Olivier Giroud’s prospects will have taken a tumble since March now that Abraham will be fully fit. Giroud is still an important player for Chelsea, but considering the Frenchman had gained three attacking returns in three games prior to the league suspension, it couldn’t have come at a worse time. There are also concerns about N’Golo Kante, after the combative midfielder had been allowed to train at home due to health concerns. The Frenchman has now returned to Chelsea’s Cobham training complex, but is training individually.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have no reported injuries as per Premier Injuries, which means that the likes of James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho, and Jeffrey Schlupp should be fully fit for the restart. Forward Cenk Tosun returned to his parent club Everton shortly before the league suspension, after suffering a knee injury that required surgery. Therefore, Christian Benteke and Jordan Ayew will continue to play in the forward positions for The Eagles. With Tomkins and Sakho back, it remains to be seen who will play in central defence, with Gary Cahill performing really well all season, and Scott Dann filing in for Tomkins pretty admirably during Gameweek’s 27 to 29. Not too much in the way of Premier League Team Updates here!
Everton
There isn’t too much to report at Everton. The Toffees have a few injuries going into the Premier League restart, but none of these concern major players. Morgan Schneiderlin has been suffering with a knee injury, and Cenk Tosun also has a knee injury sustained whilst on loan to Crystal Palace. Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Everton’s summer signing who has played just twice this season, has suffered yet another injury upon returning to training. The Ivory Coast midfielder is unlikely to feature again this season.
Elsewhere, there is one act of breaking the UK Lockdown to report. Young Italian Moise Kean was disciplined by the club after being filmed at a house party. That’s the last thing the striker needed, after struggling to settle in at his new club.
Leicester City
The Foxes were the last team to feature in the Premier League, after demolishing Aston Villa 4-0 at the King Power stadium on March 9th. Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has recently announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after this game. The Northern Irish manager has luckily made a full recovery, and will be ready for the restart. James Maddison and Ben Chilwell will also be ready for the Premier League restart, after picking up injuries shortly before the league was suspended. Chilwell missed the Gameweek 29 win, but he’ll be back in the team for Leicester’s first game.
Ricardo Pereira will not be back from injury in time, after suffering a serious knee injury either during or after the game against Aston Villa. James Justin will be his replacement for the rest of the season, and he’s a great player to pick up if you can! Elsewhere, Daniel Amartey is the only other Leicester player who is likely to miss out on the restart. The Ghanaian hasn’t featured for The Foxes since suffering a serious injury in October 2018.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool players, and the Liverpool fans must be pretty relieved the Premier League is restarting! It looked at one point as though this season may be null and void as the COVID-19 pandemic really took its toll in the UK. Liverpool are one of the most famous football clubs in the world, and have won the UEFA Champions League twice, the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup three times, and the FIFA Club World Cup over the course of the last twenty years. They haven’t won an English League title since 1990, however. The Reds have come close a number of times, but this season they have been a different class, and fully deserve to win the Premier League. With the season due to restart, it looks as though their dream of winning the league will finally come true!
In terms of the players, there isn’t too much to report. Xherdan Shaqiri and Nathaniel Clyne are likely to still be injured, but they have hardly featured this season. Goalkeeper Alisson will be back after suffering a minor injury prior to the season suspension. It’s pretty safe to say all the Liverpool players will be keen to get back on the field and complete the job of winning the Premier League!
Wondering who the best current Draft Premier League players are to target? Look no further than our Top 150 Player Rankings!
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