GW3 Injury Updates: Rodon and Diarra Out Long Term, Barcola Nears Debut
Thursday’s press conferences produced two genuine gut-punches, a handful of shrugging non-answers, and one long-awaited return that looked possible for the first time in weeks. Here’s what actually changes your Gameweek 3 squad.
An injury update only matters if it changes a transfer or a captaincy call. Everything else is noise.
Confirmed Out: Joe Rodon (Leeds), 8-10 Weeks
The hamstring injury Rodon picked up in Gameweek 2 has been confirmed as an 8 to 10 week absence, which takes him well past the international break and into a genuine long-term hole at centre-back. Leeds have no like-for-like replacement on the books, which makes every Leeds defender a bench-only hold until the picture clears.
Confirmed Out: Habib Diarra (Sunderland), 6-8 Weeks
Diarra came off injured last weekend and will now be out for six to eight weeks with the hamstring problem, a bigger blow than first feared. The knock-on FPL effect is worth noting: with Simon Adingra also gone to Ajax, Enzo Le Fée looks set to inherit Sunderland’s penalty duties, a real bump for a player already on the differential radar at a Brentford-facing fixture this week.
CONFIRMED OUT THIS WEEK
Crystal Palace: Ismaïla Sarr (groin), Chadi Riad (knee), Jean-Philippe Mateta (hamstring)
Liverpool: Hugo Ekitike (Achilles), Conor Bradley (knee), Giovanni Leoni (knee), Joe Gomez (muscle), Federico Chiesa (muscle)
Ipswich Town: Azor Matusiwa (muscle), Jack Taylor (knee)
Tottenham: Xavi Simons (knee), Wilson Odobert (knee), Dejan Kulusevski (knee)
Doubts Worth Watching
Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle gave nothing away on Joelinton, Dan Burn or Will Osula beyond insisting his medical department is working flat out, which in press-conference language usually means don’t rely on any of the three yet. Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare (calf) has no official return date but was pictured in training this week, a soft positive signal rather than a confirmation. Tottenham’s James Maddison (shoulder) is a doubt as well, worth checking again closer to deadline.
Good News: Returns and Near-Returns
Ipswich’s Jaden Philogene is close to a return from an ankle injury, while Emersonn and Luis Florentino have both been confirmed fit despite fitness scares last weekend. At Tottenham, Mohammed Kudus (thigh) could make his long-awaited comeback as a substitute. The headline positive belongs to Liverpool, though: new signing Bradley Barcola trained well enough this week that Andoni Iraola confirmed he’s available, even if a lack of pre-season minutes likely means a bench role rather than a start.
What To Actually Do
Leeds and Sunderland defenders: hold off, both clubs lost a defensive midfield or centre-back option for the long term
Enzo Le Fée: watch closely, penalty duties may now be his alone
Crystal Palace attackers: Mateta’s continued absence keeps their forward line thin
Barcola: don’t rush him in, bench-only role expected in Gameweek 3
Team news keeps moving right up to Friday’s 18:30 BST deadline. Check back before locking in any transfer built around a fitness call above.
