Just as Antonio Conte was starting to make headway at Tottenham following three successive Premier League wins, the squad has been hit by a Covid outbreak.
At least seven unnamed first-team players and two coaches have tested positive for the virus, although Conte himself is not believed to be one of those affected.
The outbreak has thrown the club’s plans for the busy festive period into chaos. In line with government guidance, any player who tests positive will have to self-isolate for 10 days. For the Spurs players in question, that would rule them out of the must-win Europa Conference League tie with Rennes this Thursday, as well as Premier League fixtures against Brighton on Sunday and Leicester next Thursday.
Tottenham have not commented publicly on the situation but it has been reported that the club could request a postponement to Sunday’s meeting with Brighton at the Amex. Several matches were postponed due to Covid outbreaks last season, but none have so far this campaign. Tottenham’s game against Burnley at the end of November was called off due to adverse weather conditions.
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Conte was also forced to substitute Sergio Reguilon (£5.3m) early into the game against Norwich due to a hamstring injury. However, Reguilon advised his Fantasy Premier League managers not to sell him in a Twitter post after the game with Conte adding: “I was a bit disappointed for Sergio, for the injury, but I spoke with him and we don’t think it’s a bad injury.”
I'll be back in a few days. Don't sell me in @OfficialFPL ????
— Sergio Reguilón (@sergio_regui) December 5, 2021pic.twitter.com/AByzlwV49M
Spurs are not the only club to have been impacted by a surge in Covid cases. On Monday, the Premier League announced that there were 12 new positive Covid tests across two rounds of testing from Monday 29 November to Sunday 5 December.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney (£6.7m) is one of those after missing his side’s 2-2 draw against Leeds on Sunday. Toney is required to self-isolate, ruling him out of matches with Watford on Friday and Manchester United on Tuesday.
Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic (£5.0m) tested positive on Tuesday just a day after returning to training following a spell out injured with a hamstring injury. “He tested positive today, for coronavirus, so he’s quarantining for a few days,” Thomas Tuchel said. “So it’s a huge setback for him personally and for all of us.”
Tuchel also revealed that Jorginho (£5.8m), N’Golo Kante (£4.9m), Trevoh Chalobah (£4.7m) and Ben Chilwell (£5.7m) would miss Chelsea’s game against Zenit on Wednesday. Both Kai Havertz (£7.9m) and Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) could be available after coming off with knocks against West Ham on Saturday.
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Emile Smith Rowe (£6.1m) was absent for Arsenal’s 2-1 loss against Everton on Monday after picking up a knock in the defeat to Manchester United last week. Speaking on Monday night, Mikel Arteta revealed: “He was with pain and could not train or travel. We will see how he is.” Gabriel Martinelli (£5.2m) also suffered a hamstring injury at Goodison Park.
West Ham’s 3-2 win over Chelsea came at a considerable cost as Kurt Zouma (£5.4m) suffered a serious hamstring tendon injury which could rule him out long-term – although it is not the ACL knee injury that was first feared. It does though mean that David Moyes will be without both of his first-choice centre-backs for the foreseeable future after Angelo Ogbonna (£5.0m) suffered knee ligament damage in the win over Liverpool. Ben Johnson (£4.0m) is also injured with a hamstring problem.
It was two steps forward, two steps back for Leeds on Sunday, meanwhile. Patrick Bamford (£7.7m) made a goal-scoring return after 11 games out against Brentford, while Luke Ayling (£4.3m) also returned. However, captain Liam Cooper (4.5m) and influential midfielder Kalvin Phillips (£4.8m) both hobbled off with muscular strains.
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Brighton will be without their three first-choice centre-backs against Spurs if the game goes ahead. Lewis Dunk (£5.0m) is out until the New Year with a knee injury, Adam Webster (£4.4m) is injured with a calf problem and Shane Duffy (£4.5m) is suspended. Leandro Trossard (£6.5m), Adam Lallana (£5.4m), Danny Welbeck (£5.9m) and Jeremy Sarmiento (£4.5m) are also expected to miss out.
The in-form Maxwel Cornet (£6.1m) limped off during Burnley’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle with a thigh strain, but has issued a promising update to the club’s fans, saying: “The news is reassuring, see you soon.”
from Fantasy Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/305Tuks
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