With the new Premier League campaign getting underway in less than three weeks’ time, there are various players who are in danger of missing the opening weekend of the campaign.
Clubs are currently busy with pre-season preparations, with some players coming back late after being involved in either the European championship in France or the Copa America in the US. However, some teams will have to cope with lengthening injury lists this summer before a ball has even been kicked in competitive anger.
Arsenal
Mertesacker, Jenkinson, Sanchez, Welbeck (injured); Ramsey, Koscielny, Ozil, Giroud (rest); Gnabry, Asano (Olympics); Gabriel (illness).
Hull City
The newly promoted Tigers have seven players on the treatment table at present. Bruce, Dawson, Huddlestone, Livermore, Maguire, McGregor, Odubajo (injured).
Liverpool
If Liverpool’s season opener at Arsenal were played today, then coach Jurgen Klopp’s back four would be without Gomez, Lucas, Matip, Smith, Sakho (injured); Ilori (Olympics)
Bournemouth
Cherries boss Eddie Howe is in danger of missing six key players with various aches and pains; Afobe, Ake, Cook, Mings, Smith, Hyndman (injured)
Tottenham Hotspur
The club that is expected to give debut to victor Wanyama will miss opening services of Dembele (suspended); Vertonghen, Njie (injured); Son (Olympics)
Crystal Palace
The Eagles have James McArthur, Bakary Sako, James Tomkins and Wilfried Zaha on the treatment table after the quartet all sustained injuries during pre-season, giving boss Alan Pardew a potential headache with West Bromwich Albion visiting Selhurst Park in less than three weeks’ time.
Sunderland
David Moyes faces a baptism of fire when he kicks off his Sunderland reign with a tricky-looking trip to face Manchester City on August 13, and may miss services of Kirchhoff, Cattermole, Jones, Defoe who are both injured.
Stoke City
Afellay, Ireland, Shawcross (injured)
Everton
Jagielka, McCarthy, Stones (injured)
Ronald Koeman is likely to be missing skipper Phil Jagielka when the Everton boss takes charge of the club for the first time in the Premier League against Spurs on August 13.
West Ham United
Slaven Bilic will be without the likes of Manuel Lanzini, Aaron Cresswell and Diafra Sakho when his West Ham side take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the first Monday Night Football clash of the new campaign.
Chelsea
Ivanovic, Zouma (injured); Mikel (Olympics)
The new Blues boss could be without Branislav Ivanovic as well for the Hammers’ visit after the versatile defender returned home early from the club’s training camp in Germany with a shoulder injury.
Burnley
Barnes, Jutkiewicz (injured)
Manchester United
Smalling (suspended); Borthwick-Jackson (injured)
Southampton
Gardos, Tadic (injured)
New Saints manager Claude Puel will have to make do without long-term injury victim Florin Gardos, However Dusan Tadic may be available for the Hornets’ visit, despite the influential playmaker having missed the south coast club’s recent friendly against PEC Zwolle with a leg problem.
Manchester City
Gundogan, Kompany (injured)
Middlesbrough
The newly promoted Premier League club will be without the services of Grant Leadbitter for their season opener with Stoke after ‘Boro’s captain underwent surgery on a hernia during the summer. Ayala is also injured.
Leicester City
Leicester’s boss will be without Robert Huth for the lunch-time trip to Hull on August 13 with the centre back serving the final match of a three-game ban after a clash with Marouane Fellaini at the end of last season.
Watford
It is still too soon to know if Adlene Guedioura will be fit in time for Watford’s season-opener at Southampton on August 13 after the Algerian midfielder limped out of the club’s recent friendly with Stevenage.
West Bromwich Albion
It is unlikely Chris Brunt will have recovered from the knee ligament injury he picked up in March in time for the Baggies’ first match of the new campaign at Palace on August 13.