Dilemmas of the Week - Gameweek 10 (25/26)

No European games this week, and only 11 Premier League teams were still involved in the League Cup - and we seem to have come through that set of fixtures without any major new injury worries. However, there was another crop of knocks and so on last weekend....

I'm trying to streamline these weekly round-ups a bit from last year, restricting myself for the most part to just the injuries etc. affecting players that are likely to have a major significance in FPL; and also, of course, only to new injuries - I figure everyone should be aware of players who've already been ruled out for some time!  

[For some years, I have found the 'Injuries & Bans' summary on Fantasy Football Scout the most reliable resource for this kind of information; although this site, Premier League Injuries, is a very good alternative (often a little quicker to update, I think - though it did go through a bit of a glitchy period for a while last year).  Go check these out for more comprehensive coverage. 

I see the Fantasy Premier League site has added an improved 'Player Availability' page this year (though hidden under 'The Scout' tab?!). That also seems to be reasonably comprehensive and up-to-date, but god knows how it's supposed to be 'organised' - maybe by 'date of injury'? Obviously, arranging it by club and alphabetical order would be more sensible; but the denizens of FPL Towers seem to have a deep aversion to the sensible.]

So, what are the conundrums we face ahead of Gameweek 10 of the season?

Does anybody need to be moved out because of injury?

Gabriel Martinelli is ruled out for Arsenal this week, and William Saliba is a major doubt, after they picked up problems in last weekend's game against Palace.

The recently impressive Emi Buendia suffered a painful foot injury against City last weekend, and will be missing for at least a week or two. I wonder how badly this might disrupt Villa's tentative recovery.

Eddie Nketiah picked up a hamstring strain in the League Cup win over Liverpool: not too serious, but likely to keep him out for a few weeks. Meanwhile, Adam Wharton has been ill this week, and seems likely to miss Saturday's game against Brentford.

Raul Jimenez had to come off in the League Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers, feeling discomfort in the hip - so, he may be a doubt this weekend (although Marco Silva was sounding optimistic about his chances in Friday's press conference). With Rodrigo Muniz still out with a hamstring problem, it seems likely that Josh King would again be used as a 'false 9', if Raul isn't able to start. Emile Smith Rowe and Harry Wilson are also doubts for Fulham after having to miss the League Cup tie with minor niggles.

Curtis Jones had to come off with a knock against Brentford last week, and is almost certainly going to be unavailable to face Villa. Ryan Gravenberch might be able to return from his ankle injury, although he hasn't trained much; Frimpong and Isak will still be out for some weeks.

Matt Doherty picked up a knee injury and Rodrigo Gomes a groin strain in last Sunday's game against Burnley; nothing too major, but they will both be unavailable this week.

Do we have any players who are dropped, or not looking likely to get the starts we hoped for?

Liam Delap, only just back from injury, is immediately suspended for picking up 2 yellow cards in Wednesday night's League Cup win over Wolves.

Harvey Elliott is a loanee from Liverpool, so ineligible to face the parent club this week - although, for some reason, he hasnn't been getting minutes for Villa anyway.

And we do now have to keep an eye on those who are close to a 'totting up' suspension.

Did anyone give other cause to consider dropping them?

Viktor Gyokeres is doing a good job for Arsenal - but not looking likely to get on the scoresheet very often. The sell-off on him, which has begun slowly over the last few weeks, is now rapidly gathering pace. Joao Pedro, Mo Salah, Tijjani Reijnders, Mo Kudus, and Virgil Van Dijk also seem to have exhausted the patience of their owners this past week or two. Even if you do fancy these players to start producing good points again soon, it is a concern that they're going to be bleeding squad value.

And I'm losing confidence in Everton; their early-season form seems to have fizzled out, and a lack of incisiveness up-front is starting to cost them dear. I'd certainly now consider ditching their attacking players, Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish (and Dewsbury-Hall and Beto...).

Did anyone play so well, you have to consider bringing them in immediately?

Bryan Mbeumo and Igor Thiago continue to look impressive - but that's been the case for some weeks already now. Ismaila Sarr has come into strong form in the last few weeks, but people have probably been holding off buying him (and other coveted Palace players like Mateta, Munoz, Guehi, and Henderson) until after the postive turn in the team's fixtures this week. I'm still a bit sceptical about Mateta: his finishing has been especially profligate so far this season (in the Bournemouth game a fortnight ago where he nabbed a hattrick, he really should have netted 6!), and I feel Nick Woltemade and Danny Welbeck have been showing much more impressive form.

BEST OF LUCK, EVERYONE!