Premier League managers could be forgiven for watching this latest round of international fixtures cowering behind their sofas with their fingers clasped over their eyeballs.
Managers are always wracked with worry when releasing their players for national duty and that has been even more pronounced this time given three games have been crammed into a schedule that is already full to bursting point.
That these games have taken place in the context of soaring Covid-19 cases around the world has only added to the concern over player’s welfare and the general feeling of disbelief that all but qualification deciders for major tournaments are taking place at all.
Amid such conditions, this has been a particularly unforgiving international break as Jurgen Klopp will attest. Liverpool have suffered numerous injury problems and positive Covid-19 tests, but they are far from the only Premier League club to have been hard done by.
Ahead of the Premier League’s return this weekend, here is the latest injury news from the international break.
Liverpool
There is nowhere else to start but with the Premier League champions who have been decimated by injuries in the opening weeks of their title defence.
With Virgil Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain already unavailable, the last thing Klopp needed was for more injury casualties.
Unfortunately for him, Joe Gomez has been ruled out for a “significant part” of the season after suffering a knee injury in England training while Mohamed Salah is set to miss Sunday’s game against Leicester, at least, after testing positive for Covid-19.
Jordan Henderson is also touch-and-go for the weekend after being withdrawn at half-time during England’s 2-0 defeat to Belgium and has returned to Merseyside for assessment.
Andy Robertson complained that his hamstring “seized up” after Scotland booked their place at Euro 2020 by beating Serbia, but the fact that he has remained with Steve Clarke’s squad for match against Israel on Wednesday bodes well for his involvement on Sunday.
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has had plenty of injury problems of his own to contend with Manchester City being without a recognised striker for much of the season.
Raheem Sterling hasn’t been involved in England’s matches this week after suffering a “small” injury in training on Friday and he has returned to Manchester for assessment ahead of City’s game against Tottenham on Saturday.
While Sterling could be in contention to feature this weekend, Nathan Ake certainly will not after injuring his hamstring five minutes into Holland’s 1-1 draw against Spain.
Chelsea
Frank Lampard will have been concerned at seeing Ben Chilwell taken off after suffering a back spasm before half-time during England’s 2-0 loss to Belgium given the form he has been in.
Unlike Henderson and Sterling who were sent back to their clubs on Monday, Chilwell has remained with the England squad for Wednesday’s game against Iceland and was pictured in training on Tuesday morning which suggests he could face Newcastle on Saturday.
Tottenham
Jose Mourinho made no secret of his disdain for this week’s international fixtures, saying on his latest Instagram post: “Great emotions in the national team matches, superb friendlies and total safety. Covid test results after matches been played, randomers running on the pitch while team sessions are taking place and much more.”
That post came shortly after the news that Matt Doherty had tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday following the Republic of Ireland’s 1-0 defeat to Wales on Sunday. Doherty will now have to self-isolate for ten days, ruling him out of action for at least ten days.
Manchester United
Marcus Rashford was originally selected in Gareth Southgate’s England squad despite clutching his shoulder late on during Manchester United‘s 3-1 win over Everton.
The 23-year-old’s arrival to the camp was delayed as he underwent “further assessment” with United’s medical department and England announced on Thursday that he would not not be joining up with the rest of the squad for the remaining two matches.
Deadline day signing Alex Telles has only played once for the club – in the 2-1 win over PSG in the Champions League, no less – due to testing positive for Covid-19 in October while on international duty with Brazil.
Telles tested positive again following Brazil’s 1-0 win over Venezuela on Friday, putting his involvement for United against West Brom on Saturday in doubt. However, Telles returned a negative test second time around meaning he is free to play this weekend.
Arsenal
Mohamed Elneny tested positive for Covid-19 after touching down in Togo on Monday ahead of Egypt’s second African Nations Cup game against the west African nation.
The midfielder isn’t showing symptoms and is now self-isolating in Cairo after returning to Egypt.
While not an integral member of the Mikel Arteta’s team, Elneny’s absence is ill-timed given Thomas Partey had to be taken off at half-time during Arsenal‘s 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa due to a hamstring injury prior to the international break.
Partey had been scheduled to link up with Ghana for the international break but remained in north London for further assessment and treatment instead.
Leicester City
Wesley Fofana has earned rave reviews for his performances for Leicester City since a summer move from Saint-Etienne but he was forced to withdraw from France U21 duty because of a knee problem. He will be assessed before Sunday’s game against Liverpool.
Brendan Rodgers would have been concerned to see Kasper Schmeichel withdrawn for Denmark against Iceland on Sunday after suffering a head injury, however, he was deemed fine to resume training on Monday.
Everton
Seamus Coleman returned to action for Everton’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester United after being sidelined for three weeks due to a hamstring injury but he suffered a recurrence of the issue ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s 3-0 defeat to England.
Elsewhere…
Brighton forward Aaron Connolly was forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad due to a hamstring injury but Stephen Kenny expects him to only be out for “10 days”.
Crystal Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic was absent as Serbia were beaten by Scotland in their Euro 2020 qualifier after testing positive for Covid-19. Eberechi Eze withdrew from England U21 duty on Monday after complaining of muscle soreness.
Sheffield United have a few fresh injury doubts for their game against West Ham. John Egan suffered a head injury in Ireland’s defeat to England, Rhian Brewster withdrew from the England U21 squad due to a knock and Sander Berge is quarantining after an unnamed Norwegian player tested positive for Covid-19.
Southampton’s in-form James Ward-Prowse withdrew from the England squad with a hamstring problem and will be assessed.
Andriy Yarmolenko is currently self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 and will miss West Ham’s game against Sheffield United, while Wolves captain Conor Coady withdrew from England duty after coming into close contact with someone who tested positive.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2INvnxH
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