:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44198516/usa-today-7961861.0.jpg)
It´s starting to sound like a broken record I know, but International Breaks always result in key players getting injured or returning to their respecitve clubs facing the dreaded ¨late fitness test¨. This International Break certainly lived up to the billing with frustrating consistency. With the amount of doubts surrounding a fair few players, I suggest having a stronger bench than usual to cover those players that may indeed be forced to drop out. Luckily there are a number of bargain players to be had this gameweek, allowing for bench coverage and the funds for the more premium picks (I´m looking at you Eden Hazard!)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Let´s take a quick look at our Injuries and Suspension Post breakdown:
Out: Fantasy-relevant players who have been confirmed out for the week, either through injury or suspension
Doubt: Players facing the dreaded late fitness test, rotation concerns and those who are out of form/favor
In: The likeliest replacements for the Outs & Doubts
Win: Fantasy player to watch / my hunch pick of the week
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Out: Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny, Mathieu Debuchy
Doubt: Theo Walcott (fitness), Danny Welbeck (knock), Olivier Giroud (fitness)
In: Oxlade-Chamberlain
Win: Alexis Sanchez
____________________________________
Aston Villa
Out: Christian Benteke (suspended), Fabian Delph, Senderos
Doubt: Baker, Ron Vlaar
In: Charles N´Zogbia, Ciaran Clark, Alan Hutton
Win: Andres Weimann
____________________________________
Burnley
Out: Matthew Taylor, Sam Vokes
Doubt: Arfield (knock), Nathaniel Chalobah
In: Michael Knightly (maybe)
Win: Kieran Trippier
____________________________________
Chelsea
Out:
Doubt: Cesc Fabregas, Andre Schurrle
In: Cesar Azpilicueta, Ramires (maybe)
Win: Diego Costa
____________________________________
Crystal Palace
Out: McCarthy, Dobbie, Hunt,, Murray, Williams
Doubt: McArthur
In: Joe Ledley (maybe)
Win: Zaha
____________________________________
Everton
Out: Antolin Alcaraz, John Stones, Kone
Doubt: Gareth Barry, Leighton Baines, Sheamus Coleman, Kevin Mirallas, Darren Gibson, Pienaar
In: Sylvain Distin, Samuel Eto'o (maybe)
Win: Lukaku
____________________________________
Hull City
Out: Alex Bruce, Maynor Figueroa, Allan McGregor, Steve Harper, Robert Snodgrass
Doubt: Davies
In: Andrew Robertson (maybe)
Win: Robbie Brady
____________________________________
Leicester City
Out: Hammond
Doubt: N/A
In: N/A
Win: Ulloa
____________________________________
Liverpool
Out: Mamadou Sakho, Daniel Sturridge, Jon Flanagan, Suso
Doubt: Mario Balotelli, Jose Enrique, Jordan Henderson
In: Philippe Coutinho, Emir Can
Win: Raheem Sterling
____________________________________
Manchester City
Out: David Silva, Aleksandr Kolarov
Doubt: Dzeko, Vincent Kompany
In: Samir Nasri (maybe)
Win: Sergio Aguero
____________________________________
Manchester United
Out: Chris Smalling (suspended), Radamel Falcao, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blin, da Silva
Doubt: Michael Carrick, Phin Jones, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Jonny Evans
In: Pady McNair, Adan Januzaj
Win: Wayne Rooney
____________________________________
Newcastle
Out: Gabriel Obertan, Siem De Jong, Cheikh Tiote, Davide Santon, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Coloccini
Doubt: Abeid, Taylor
In: Remy Cabella, Ayoze Perez
Win: Ayoze Perez
____________________________________
Queens Park Rangers
Out: Rio Ferdinand (suspended), Alex McCarthy, Alejandro Faurlin, Adel Taarabt
Doubt: Cordiero
In: Charlie Austin
Win: Charlie Austin
____________________________________
Southampton
Out: James Ward-Prowse, Jay Rodriguez, Artur Boruc, Jos Hooiveld
Doubt: Dustin Tadic, Schneiderlin, Davis
In: Jack Cork
Win: Graziano Pelle
____________________________________
Stoke City
Out: Robert Huth, Peter Odemwingie, Andy Wilkinson
Doubt: Wilson, Phil Bardsley
In: Muniesa, Bojan Krkic
Win: Bojan Krkic
____________________________________
Sunderland
Out: Lee Cattermole (suspended), Patrick Van Aanholt, Billy Jones, Ricky Alvarez, Emmanuele Giaccherini
Doubt:
In: Lee Cattermole (returning from suspension)
Win: Steven Fletcher
____________________________________
Swansea City
Out: Richards, Tate, Donnelly
Doubt:
In: Jonjo Shelvey, Montero
Win: Gylfi Sigurdsson
____________________________________
Tottenham Hotspur
Out: Nabil Bentaleb, Holtby
Doubt: Kyle Walker, Andros Townsend
In: Harry Kane, Erik Lamela (maybe)
Win: Harry Kane
____________________________________
West Bromwich Albion
Out: Jonas Olsson
Doubt:Pocognoli
In: Craig Gardner (returning from suspension)
Win: Saido Berahino
____________________________________
West Ham United
Out: Guy Demel, Ravel Morrison, Modibo Maiga
Doubt: Downing (knock), Sahko
In: Kouyate
Win: Enner Valencia
_____________________________________________________________________________________
There we have it, another Injury Round Up completed. How have the doubts surrounding Tadic and Fabregas alter your strategy for Week 12? Who are you looking at for bench cover?
My current squad looks like this: Courtois, Ivanovic, Trippier, Bertrand, Hazard, Di Maria, Tadic, Fabregas, Sanchez, Bojan, Costa w/ N'Zogbia, Kelly, Moore, and Gazz for the bench. Not much room to make changes unless I down grade Hazard, but he has performed well for me this season and with Chelsea having the best match up on paper, seemed the right buy. Plus if Fabregas is out, expect Hazard to take over more set pieces. N´Zogbia is a bit of a gamble as a bench option, but all indications say he will likely play and he is dirt cheap allowing me the funds for Hazard. I am still up in the air on Bojan. I have 2 options if I trade, swap him directly for Moses and opt for a 3-5-2 and rely on Kelly and Moore to be my bench options. Or drop Bojan/N´Zogbia for Pelle/Lamela, but I fear Pelle will suffer without the service of Tadic if he is indeed ruled out come kick off.
Well I hope is thes has helped solidify your team! As always good luck!
Cheers