GW8 Injury Updates: Saka’s Quad, Semenyo Out, and Chelsea Lose Their Goalkeeper

Three of the game’s more popular players picked up injuries in the space of five days. Antoine Semenyo hurt his knee against Ipswich and is out for around eight weeks. Bukayo Saka lasted ten minutes at Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Dominik Szoboszlai’s hamstring went again after half an hour at Brentford. Chelsea, meanwhile, lost their goalkeeper to a fractured jaw. The deadline is 18:30 BST on Friday, earlier than usual, so several of the calls below will be settled by Friday’s press conferences with very little time to act. Every status was checked against Thursday’s official FPL flags and this week’s press conferences, and Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, both listed here last week, have been removed because both are fit.

“It doesn’t look good at all” is not a percentage. It is close enough.

Arsenal: Saka’s Quad, Hincapie’s Return

Saka went down unchallenged ten minutes into Arsenal’s 2-2 draw in Munich, clutching his thigh. Mikel Arteta said afterwards that it does not look good at all and that the club are a bit concerned. The official game lists a thigh injury and a 50 percent chance of playing against Everton, which is generous given the manager’s tone. He is owned by about 16 percent of managers at 9.6m and has been sold by more than 140,000 this week. Noni Madueke moved across when Saka went off, and Martin Odegaard is the likeliest to inherit set pieces.

The better news is in defence. Piero Hincapie is back in individual training after his ankle injury, and Arteta said he can be available for Everton. William Saliba (back) and Christos Tzolis (hamstring, expected back 1 November) remain out.

Manchester City: Semenyo Out Until December

Semenyo injured his knee in the 3-2 win over Ipswich, and Enzo Maresca put the absence at around eight weeks, with a return “around December”. He is owned by 11.6 percent and was the second most-sold player of the week. Haaland hobbled late in the same match and sat on the bench for Tuesday’s Champions League game, but Maresca said on Thursday that he is 100 percent available for Villa. The other three who were forced off on Saturday, Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic and Nico O’Reilly, missed Monday’s training and were due to be assessed on Thursday afternoon. O’Reilly, owned by 9.1 percent, has a recurring back problem.

Chelsea: No Martinez, No James

Emiliano Martinez fractured his jaw at Everton, had surgery, and is not expected back until mid-December. Chelsea’s other senior goalkeepers are both out on loan, so Robin Penders, 4.4m and owned by 0.2 percent, is the likely starter against Tottenham. Reece James is out with a knee injury. Pep Chavarria pulled out of the warm-up at Everton after feeling something in training and is a doubt. Malo Gusto, who missed Everton with illness, is expected to be available.

Doubts Worth Watching

Szoboszlai is the big one. He made his first start since the original injury at Brentford, came off after 31 minutes, and Andoni Iraola said the problem is not new but needs more patience. The official game has no return date for him, he is owned by 18.7 percent, and he was the most-sold player of the week with more than 338,000 transfers out. Liverpool host Brighton on Sunday, so Friday’s press conference is the last word, but the signals point one way.

Johan Manzambi, Villa’s scorer at Newcastle, is a 75 percent doubt with a calf problem, but his scan was reported as positive and he is expected back quickly. Tottenham’s Omar Marmoush (calf) and defender Robertson (foot) carry 75 percent flags ahead of Chelsea away, and Pedro Porro is listed as returning on Saturday. Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez (thigh) and Marcus Rashford (hip) are 75 percent. Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson is back in training but may not be ready, and Quinten Timber has a new hamstring problem.

Good News: Returns and Near-Returns

Morgan Gibbs-White trained all week and is available for Forest’s trip to Ipswich on Friday. Oliver Glasner was plain about it: he’s ready. Nikola Milenkovic is fit to start as well. Isak started and scored at Brentford and Gakpo is fit, so Liverpool’s front line is no longer the question it was last week, and Ryan Gravenberch is back from suspension. Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey is training with the squad, and Regis Le Bris expects him to be ready for Leeds. Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi is back in team training and could get minutes at Old Trafford. Villa’s Ian Maatsen and United’s Matthijs de Ligt are back in contention.

Team news keeps moving until the 18:30 BST deadline on Friday, 23 October, ninety minutes before Ipswich host Nottingham Forest. Most clubs hold their press conferences on Thursday and Friday, so check back before locking in any transfer built around a fitness call.