Arsenal hit hard by injuries to top stars while Erik ten Hag’s problems pile up after the international break – which stars will be missing as the Premier League returns?
Over the past fortnight, the international break has claimed plenty of casualties, with several top Premier League stars suffering injuries.
England’s top flight returns after two weeks away on Saturday with a spicy London derby as Tottenham host West Ham in the lunchtime kick-off.
Liverpool and Chelsea are also set to face off on Sunday in what is arguably Arne Slot‘s biggest test as Reds boss to date.
However, many stars will be missing from the 10 league fixtures this weekend after the international break further decimated squads around the country.
With plenty of players queing up for treatment tables in their respective training grounds, Mail Sport have compiled the injury lists of each Premier League team.
The September international break saw Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard injure his ankle
Before the lateat break from Premier League action Harry Maguire hurt his calf away at Aston Villa
Arsenal
Arsenal already had a concerning list of injuries leading into the international break with captain Martin Odegaard out with an ankle injury. However, over the past two weeks, it has only worsened.
Bukayo Saka sparked injury worries when he was forced off with a thigh problem against Greece while on England duty and he later withdrew from the squad before the Three Lions’ win over Finland.
Gabriel Martinelli was another victim of international duty as he picked up a calf problem while away with Brazil, compiling more injury misery on Mikel Arteta.
Both remain doubts ahead of the Gunners’ visit to Bournemouth, while Kai Havertz is also fighting to return from a knee problem that caused him to sit out of Germany’s Nations league fixtures.
Unavailable: Martin Odegaard (ankle), Gabriel Martinelli (calf), Kieran Tierney (hamstring)
Doubts: Ben White (knee), Jurrien Timber (fitness), Kai Havertz (knee), Bukayo Saka (thigh), Thomas Partey (fitness), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf)
Bukayo Saka is a doubt for Arsenal after picking up a thigh problem in England loss to Greece
Aston Villa
Unai Emery will be relieved that the international break is over. The Spaniard is one of the fortunate ones to have not seen his injury list added to over the last fortnight.
In fact, Aston Villa are set to be bolstered by the return of their captain John McGinn, who has been nursing a hamstring injury for the last month. Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana are also closing in on a return to action.
Unavailable: Tyrone Mings (knee), Boubacar Kamara (knee)
Doubts: John McGinn (thigh), Jacob Ramsey (groin), Amadou Onana (thigh)
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola has next to nothing to worry about in terms of injuries, his squad have somehow come through the international break unscathed.
Tyler Adams is the only slight concern as he recovers from back surgery, but his progress in the medical room means that we could see the midfielder take a place in the squad against Arsenal.
Doubts: Tyler Adams (back)
Tyler Adams remains the only injury concern for Bournemouth after the international break
Brentford
Bryan Mbeumo will have a lot of pressure on him when Brentford take to the Old Trafford turf to do battle with Manchester United on Saturday. The majority of Brentford’s other forwards are on the treatment table and will miss the trip.
Yoane Wissa remains sidelined after the injury he picked up away at Manchester City last month, while Mikkel Damsgaard was forced to withdraw from the Denmark squad due to a knock.
Damsgaard may return to action at the weekend, but regardless, Mbeumo won’t have much help from his team-mates going forward, at the weekend, based on the injury list.
Unavailable: Igor Thiago (knee), Josh Da Silva (knee), Yoane Wissa (ankle), Rico Henry (knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh), Gustavo Nunes (back)
Doubts: Mikkel Damsgaard (knock), Mathias Jensen (calf)
Brighton
Fabian Hurzeler has had a major boost in the days following the international break as Jan Paul van Hecke, Simon Adingra, and Georginio Rutter, all returned to training following injury.
All three may feature against Newcastle United, despite missing their respective international matches.
Georginio Rutter sustained a knock during Brighton’s win over Tottenham but could return
Meanwhile, Solly March is also nearing his long-awaited return to the pitch after suffering a serious knee injury against Manchester City 12 months ago. The trip to the north east may come too soon for the winger, though.
Unavailable: Joao Pedro (ankle), Matt O’Riley (ankle), Adam Webster (hamstring)
Doubts: Jan Paul van Hecke (groin), Simon Adingra (knock), Georginio Rutter (knock), James Milner (thigh), Solly March (knee), Carlos Baleba (knock)
Chelsea
Chelsea’s injury list may be the best it’s looked in years, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have some concerns heading into Sunday’s crunch match with Liverpool.
Levi Colwill sustained a knock while with England and could be a doubt for Enzo Maresca’s men. He was an unused substitute against Finland after picking up the problem against Greece.
Noni Madueke is another fitness concern for Maresca, while Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana are out through suspension.
Unavailable: Omari Kellyman (thigh)
Doubts: Levi Colwill (knock), Carney Chukwuekmeka (illness), Noni Madueke (knock)
Enzo Maresca will be hoping Levi Colwill is fit to face Liverpool after picking up a knock on England duty
Crystal Palace
Oliver Glasner’s main worry ahead of the Premier League’s return is the fitness of Adam Wharton. The midfielder missed England Under 21 duty due to a groin problem that has been impacting his performances over the past month.
The 20-year-old remains a doubt for Crystal Palace ahead of their trip to Nottingham Forest, as does fellow midfielder Cheick Doucoure.
However, Glasner has no fresh injury concerns to worry about and Eberechi Eze will be fresh when Palace take to the City Ground after being left out of the most recent England squad.
Unavailable: Chadi Riad (knee), Matheus Franca (groin), Daniel Munoz (groin), Rob Holding (unavailable)
Doubts: Chris Richards (thigh), Adam Wharton (groin), Cheick Doucoure (ankle)
Adam Wharton has been playing through injury for large spells of the campaign so far
Everton
Sean Dyche may have a fully fit squad to choose from when his side travel to Ipswich Town at the weekend.
Jarrad Branthwaite is on the brink of a return after missing the 0-0 draw with Newcastle before the break.
Meanwhile, Armando Broja and Seamus Coleman could also come back into the frame after a period on the sidelines nursing calf injuries.
Doubts: Nathan Patterson (fitness), Youssef Chermiti (ankle), Vitaliy Mykolenko (calf), Jarrad Branthwaite (thigh), Armando Broja (Calf), Seamus Coleman (Calf)
Fulham
Fulham are another side blessed with little injury problems, with just Sasa Lukic unavailable for their match with Aston Villa.
Jorge Cuenca and Carlos Vinicius are both in line for a return to the squad, while there were no fresh concerns for Marco Silva over the international break.
Unavailable: Sasa Lukic (shoulder)
Doubts: Jorge Cuenca (ankle), Carlos Vinicius (calf)
Marco Silva does not have many injury worries after the most recent international break
Ipswich Town
Kieran McKenna may be able to call upon Nathan Broadhead when Everton arrive at Portman Road, as he nears a return from a thigh problem.
However, Axel Tuanzebe’s freak hand injury will continue to keep him out of action as he recovers from surgery.
Unavailable: Janoi Donacien (ankle), Axel Tuanzebe (hand), Ali Al Hamadi (other), Massimo Luongo (ankle)
Doubts: Nathan Broadhead (thigh), Jens-Lys Cajuste (knee)
Leicester City
Another side to have come away from the international break unscathed, however, they will have three absentees from the squad when they face Southampton.
Patson Daka has returned to training after an ankle problem, but the trip down to the south coast comes too soon for the striker. Instead, the Foxes will have to rely on Jamie Vardy once more.
Unavailable: Patson Daka (ankle), Jakub Stolarczyk (ankle), Hamza Choudhury (shoulder)
Patson Daka has returned to training but won’t be fit to face Southampton at the weekend
Liverpool
Alexis Mac Allister calmed fears over his fitness by playing nearly 70 minutes for Argentina against Bolivia. The midfielder sparked concern when he went off at half-time in Liverpool’s win over Crystal Palace, but he should be fit to play Chelsea.
Caoimhin Kelleher should also be available after missing the trip to Selhurst Park through illness. The goalkeeper started both of Ireland’s Nations League matches against Finland and Greece.
Kelleher is expected to line-up between the sticks at Anfield on Sunday as Alisson continues to recover from a hamstring strain suffered against Palace before the break.
Unavailable: Alisson (hamstring), Harvey Elliott (ankle)
Doubts: Federico Chiesa (fitness), Caoimhin Kelleher (illness), Alexis Mac Allister (groin)
Caoimhin Kelleher (right) featured in both of Irelan’s Nations League matches during the break
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola can breathe a sigh of relief, he has not lost any more major stars to injury over the international break.
Kevin De Bruyne may even return to action after hobbling off against Inter Milan with a groin problem last month. Nathan Ake is another star who may be in Guardiola’s thoughts ahead of their trip to Wolves.
The return of such players will ease the load on the squad after the serious knee injury sustained by Rodri, which will see him miss the rest of the season.
Unavailable: Rodri (knee), Oscar Bobb (leg fracture)
Doubts: Nathan Ake (thigh), Kevin De Bruyne (groin)
Manchester United
Erik ten Hag has never had much luck with injuries at Manchester United, and the list of absentees continues to pile up for the Dutchman.
Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho both pulled out of international duty, raising concerns about their fitness ahead of their clash with Brentford.
Erik ten Hag will be hoping Kobbie Mainoo is fit after missing England duty with a knock
Harry Maguire remains on the sidelines after his calf injury against Aston Villa, while Noussair Mazraoui could return as early as next month after a recent health scare.
Unavailable: Leny Yoro (ankle), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Noussair Mazraoui (illness), Harry Maguire (calf)
Doubts: Luke Shaw (calf), Mason Mount (head), Alejandro Garnacho (knee), Amad Diallo (illness), Kobbie Mainoo (thigh)
Newcastle United
There is some good news to come from this international break for Eddie Howe. Both Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson are set to return for the arrival of Brighton at the weekend.
However, Howe’s defensive problems continue as Jamal Lascelles, Sven Botman, and Kieran Tripper, all remain sidelined.
Unavailable: Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Kieran Trippier (hamstring)
Doubts: Callum Wilson (back), Alexander Isak (ankle), Martin Dubravka (knee), Lewis Miley (ankle)
Alexander Isak (left) and Callum Wilson (right) could both feature for Newcastle this weekend
Nottingham Forest
Nuno Espirito Santo’s main concerns lie in the middle of the pitch as Morgan Gibbs-White missed England duty due to an ankle injury sustained at Chelsea. Despite two weeks of recovery, Gibbs-White is not expected to return against Crystal Palace.
Fellow midfielders Ibrahim Sangare and James Ward-Prowse will also be sidelined, with the latter serving a one-match ban after picking up a red card at Stamford Bridge before the international break.
Unavailable: Danilo (ankle), Ibrahim Sangare (thigh), Morgan Gibbs-White (ankle)
Doubts: Matz Sels (groin)
Southampton
Southampton’s only real concern comes with the injury sustained by Ross Stewart before the international break.
The striker has only featured nine times since signing in the summer of 2023, and he will now return to the treatment table with a thigh problem.
Unavailable: Ross Stewart (thigh), Gavin Bazunu (heel)
Doubts: Will Smallbone (thigh)
Ross Stewart has only feature nine times for Southampton since signing in the summer of 2023
Tottenham Hotspur
Son Hueng-Min is set for a return to action after missing three matches through injury. The Tottenham captain is expected to be available after resting over the international break.
However, Ange Postecoglou has been left sweating over the fitness of Lucas Bergvall who sustained a knock while away with Sweden.
Unavailable: Richarlison (calf)
Doubts: Son Heung-min (thigh), Wilson Odobert (hamstring), Lucas Bergvall (knock)
West Ham United
This will be short and sweet. West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has only one concern and that is over the fitness of striker Niclas Fullkrug.
The summer signing is yet to start a Premier League match for the Hammers and has not featured for the club since August.
Doubts: Niclas Fullkrug (calf)
Summer signing Niclas Fullkrug has not featured for West Ham since August due to a calf injury
Wolves
The injuries are stacking up for Gary O’Neil which is not ideal ahead of a trip to champions Manchester City. Wolves will remain without Hwang Hee-Chan at the Etihad due to an ankle injury.
Bastien Meupiyou is closing in on a return but the bottom side could be without as many as six players at the weekend.
Unavailable: Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Hee-Chan Hwang (ankle), Enso Gonzalez (knee), Boubacar Traore (knee), Yerson Mosquera (knee)
Doubts: Bastien Meupiyou (fitness)
