Premier League clubs have returned from the international break with injury concerns over several key players, with Arsenal, Bournemouth and Sunderland among the worst affected, The Guardian reported on Thursday 8 October. In Gameweek 6, Liverpool hosts Manchester City, where Alexander Isak's appearance is in doubt.

Arsenal Absences Follow International Duty

Arsenal sent 17 players (senior + youth) away on international duty and have lost several to injury. Kai Havertz suffered a hamstring problem playing for Germany against the Netherlands and went off in the 1-1 draw. He returned to Arsenal for assessment, and reports suggest he could miss around four weeks.

Christos Tzolis lasted only 18 minutes for Greece against the Netherlands before injuring a hamstring. Reports suggest he could be out for two to three weeks. Max Dowman also left the field playing for England Under-19s after a heavy tackle (contact injury), and it is yet to be determined if he will be available for Gameweek 6. Arsenal lost 3-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion before the break.

@arsenalnewschan shared an update:

Ezri Konsa withdrew from the England squad on Monday 5 October and returned to Arsenal for further assessment, and his Gameweek 6 availability is uncertain. England head coach Thomas Tuchel told a pre-match press conference during the break week that Konsa's issue was minor, but that it was not worth the risk. Tuchel said the knock came against Croatia and was not a muscle injury. Konsa had already missed the Czech Republic match with a minor problem before starting that game.

Bournemouth and Sunderland Lose Key Players

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott is out for up to two months with a quadriceps injury sustained on England duty. The New York Times reported that Scott still played 70 minutes of England's 7-0 win over Croatia despite discomfort. Tuchel, responding to the injury, said England took zero risk with him. Bournemouth are yet to win a Premier League match.

Sunderland face two absences. The New York Times reported that striker Brian Brobbey, who scored a hat-trick against Manchester City in Gameweek 5, lasted only 35 minutes against Germany before going off with a suspected hamstring problem, and was withdrawn from the Dutch squad. The Guardian reported that defender Dan Ballard is also out with a strain picked up playing for Northern Ireland.

Other Doubts Before the Fantasy Deadline

Manchester United's Patrick Dorgu suffered a hamstring problem while playing for Denmark. He could miss Gameweek 6, though his recovery timeline is unclear. United's Bruno Fernandes has also been playing through an injury and is likely to keep going despite the muscle and back pain. Jorge Jesus, who manages Portugal, described Fernandes's problem as a complicated one.

At Tottenham Hotspur, Micky van der Ven's hand injury is not serious. Jan Paul van Hecke is a Gameweek 6 doubt with a foot problem.

Liverpool are waiting on two players. Alexander Isak left the Sweden camp with a thigh issue after playing 90 minutes and scoring in the 2-1 win over Romania, and the club will assess him in training. Cody Gakpo went off with an ankle injury after 17 minutes playing for the Netherlands against Serbia and left their camp, with the severity unknown. Nico O'Reilly withdrew from the England squad during the Nations League matches.

@TouchlineX posted on the injury news:

The Guardian reported that Manchester City's Erling Haaland asked to leave the field in Norway's second match against Portugal, but Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken said it was part of the plan. Solbakken told TV2 that Haaland was not the only one who left; the entire group of players did the same because they "needed to breathe".

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