All 20 Premier League clubs are expected to be without at least one first-team player when they return to action following the international break with some worse off than others
The final international break of the season has come and gone, leaving all 20 Premier League clubs with a clear run between now and May. However, the recent matches across the world haven’t passed without some fresh injury concerns.
A number of Premier League stars helped their national sides make progress in World Cup qualification and UEFA Nations League campaigns. However, some suffered scares which could keep them out of action when league matches return in April after this weekend’s FA Cup programme.
Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori went down with a nasty-looking injury towards the end of Italy’s Nations League match against Germany, while Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood limped out of the victory over New Caledonia which confirmed the All Whites’ World Cup qualification. Others, including Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, pulled out of their national squads before a ball was kicked.
There has been some greater cause for optimism elsewhere. A number of top-flight clubs indicates star players – some of whom have been out injured since before the turn of the year – could return to action in early April.
With plenty left to be determined in the final nine weeks of the season, the fitness of players is more important than ever. Here, Mirror Football has a look at the state of play for all 20 clubs.
READ MORE: Harry Kane sends new warning over burnout fears and claims players are being ignoredREAD MORE: Jean-Philippe Mateta discovers Crystal Palace return date after horror head injury
Arsenal
Bukayo Saka has been absent since December after undergoing hamstring surgery, but the England star is close to returning. Mirror Football understands the 23-year-old is targeting the April 8 game against Real Madrid for his return, but some of his team-mates won’t be available.
Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu are out for the season, while Riccardo Calafiori has gone in for tests over a knee injury with no update given at the time of writing. Arsenal’s next game against Fulham could see them welcome back Jurrien Timber after illness, though, while Raheem Sterling is available again after being ineligible to face parent club Chelsea last time out.
Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins was withdrawn at half-time during Villa’s Champions League victory over Club Brugge and missed out on England’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia as a result. He could return to play a part for Villa in the FA Cup against Preston, where Ross Barkley could also feature for the first time since January after calf problems.
Bournemouth
Speaking ahead of the international break, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola indicated Julian Araujo and Marcos Senesi are close to returning. “They’ve been to Finland to see the surgeon, they are doing well and they have started training with us,” he said.
“It’s now going to be a matter of the feelings, the shape and when we think they are ready to play with the team. Both are on the right path, yes.”
There’s no sign of a return any time soon for Enes Unal and Adam Smith, though. Luis Sinisterra returned from hamstring issues in February but is understood to have suffered a fresh setback and missed Colombia’s March internationals.
Brentford
Brentford could be set to welcome back two long-term absentees against Newcastle on April 2. Aaron Hickey and Josh Dasilva haven’t featured at all this term but are close to returning, while Rico Henry is being handled carefully after his most recent return lasted just two games.
Mathias Jensen is expected back after missing the Bournemouth game in March through illness, while manager Thomas Frank expects Michael Kayode to return after a knee issue. There’s less certainty over Igor Thiago and Gustavo Nunes, though, while Fabio Carvalho faces a race against time to feature again this season.
Brighton
Brighton’s next game comes against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, and their long injury list could become shorter in time for that tie. Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk and Matt O’Riley weren’t able to return before the break, but Fabian Hurzeler was optimistic about them being available.
“So, when we talk about the advantages and disadvantages of an international break, for [Veltman] it’s an advantage because he can use it as a recovery time,” Hurzeler said in mid-March. “I think we can use it for several players regarding Dunk, regarding O’Riley, that we have them available after an international break so therefore it’s an advantage for us.”
Solly March should also be available, though Ferdi Kadioglu, Jason Steele and James Milner are all still a few weeks away. Tariq Lamptey’s return date hasn’t been set yet, but the season is over for Igor Julio after hamstring surgery.
Chelsea
Chelsea remain confident of having Cole Palmer back after he missed England’s double-header. “Last week, as we know, he had some problem and unfortunately, yesterday he had a very small problem and we think that probably after the international break he will be ready to be back with us,” manager Enzo Maresca said after ruling Palmer out of the last league game against Arsenal.
Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke are all in contention to return against Tottenham on April 3 after missing the last few weeks. Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended, though, while Omari Kellyman will have to wait until next season for his senior debut after a setback in his return from hamstring issues.
Crystal Palace
Jean-Philippe Mateta could feature in the FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham in what would be his first outing since suffering a horror injury against Millwall in the previous round. “Hopefully I can play – you never know,” the Frenchman said. “I am at the ground every day. The doc is the boss. He will decide. I will wear a mask I think.”
Will Hughes is back after serving a two-match ban, but Palace have yet to provide an update on Joel Ward, who has been out with a calf strain since January. The season is over for Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad, though, with both facing a long recovery period after knee injuries.
Everton
Everton are already without Orel Mangala for the remainder of the season, while defender Vitalii Mykolenko suffered a serious-looking injury on international duty with Ukraine. “I know Vitaliy. If he didn’t continue playing, then the injury was really serious,” Ukraine boss Serhiy Rebrov said.
David Moyes‘ side is already depleted going into the Merseyside Derby on April 2. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye are all ruled out, but the trio could be in line to return by the middle of the month.
Fulham
Fulham are without Reiss Nelson for the remainder of the season, but some of their other players are closer to returning. Sasa Lukic is available to play in the FA Cup on Saturday after suspension, while Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson are on track for April returns.
Ipswich
Ipswich are without Wes Burns and Chiedozie Ogbene for the remainder of the season after sustaining serious injuries, while Sam Szmodics isn’t expected back until May after surgery. Goalkeeper Aro Muric remains sidelined with a shoulder problem, but there has been more positive news on Axel Tuanzebe and Conor Chaplin.
“We’ll see him after the international break. Exactly which game for, we’re not sure yet,” McKenna said of Tuanzebe after the defender’s thumb surgery. Chaplin, who hasn’t played in 2025 due to a knee injury, is also expected back during the run-in.
Leicester
Abdul Fatawu is out for the remainder of the season, but Ricardo Pereira could return against Manchester City. The Portuguese international missed the defeat against Manchester United, having returned from his latest setback days earlier, but is in contention to feature.
Liverpool
Ryan Gravenberch missed the Netherlands’ Nations League games against Spain through injury but could return against Everton. Alisson is also expected to be available despite being injured in a nasty collision with Colombia’s Davinson Sanchez while on Brazil duty.
Jarell Quansah may be forced to continue at right-back in the derby with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez all still missing. Arne Slot expects the trio back before the end of the season, though all three are thought to be a few weeks away.
Manchester City
Rodri remains hopeful of playing in the Club World Cup, though a return before then remains unlikely, while Nathan Ake is a doubt to play again before the end-of-season tournament. Bernardo Silva should be available despite lasting just 18 minutes in the last league game, with the Portugal star playing 120 minutes against Denmark on Sunday.
Ederson is expected to be available again after an abdominal injury, but John Stones and Manuel Akanji aren’t expected back until late April or early May at the earliest. Oscar Bobb has been back in training after a broken leg, and could feature during the run-in, but no date has been given for his return.
Manchester United
Harry Maguire was close to returning for United against former club Leicester, and could have been available for England had Thomas Tuchel not opted to leave him out. Maguire could return to action against Nottingham Forest on April 1, with Leny Yoro and Patrick Dorgu in contention to feature after injury and suspension respectively.
Ayden Heaven avoided serious injury against Leicester after leaving on a stretcher, but might still face some time on the sidelines. “Thank you guys for all the support! I have read all your messages, and I’m doing really well and recovering fast,” the youngster wrote on Instagram.
Ruben Amorim is unsure on a return date for Kobbie Mainoo but he could be back in April, while Luke Shaw and Amad are both in contention to feature before the end of the season. Lisandro Martinez’s campaign is over, though, while there is no concrete news on fringe players Altay Bayindir and Jonny Evans after their recent absences.
Newcastle
Anthony Gordon sat out the Carabao Cup final through suspension and then picked up an injury on England duty. “He left camp. He has a huge bruise around the hip region and was it so painful he couldn’t even walk properly,” international boss Thomas Tuchel said.
“He needs some time to heal and to get better. That’s why he left camp. It’s a shame because he had a good chance to start, and I’m sad that he is now out.”
The April 2 game against Brentford may come too soon for Gordon, with Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles not expected back until May after knee problems. Lewis Hall, meanwhile, won’t play until next season following foot surgery.
Nottingham Forest
Chris Wood faces a waiting game after picking up a hip injury when he fell awkwardly playing for New Zealand. “That’s where the pain is at the moment,” he RNZ (via the Nottingham Post). “I felt it on that side, so I’ll get it checked over and hopefully it is nothing too major and hopefully it’s just impact.”
Forest’s only other absentee is backup goalkeeper Carlos Miguel. The Brazilian hasn’t featured in a matchday squad since early February due to a hamstring injury.
Southampton
James Bree and Will Smallbone are in contention to feature after the international break, while an injury sustained by Jan Bednarek on Poland duty is unlikely to keep him out for too long. “Bednarek was still bleeding from the nose after the hit with the opponent,” Poland boss Michal Probierz said. “We decided that there was no point in him playing, but the whole thing is not serious.”
Taylor Harwood-Bellis could also feature against Crystal Palace on April 2 despite pulling out of the England Under-21 squad through injury. Juan Larios is still short of match fitness after returning to Premier League 2 duty in February, while Ross Stewart is also getting closer to a return from his hamstring injury after playing 45 minutes for Saints’ Under-21s in February.
Tottenham Hotspur
Radu Dragusin’s season is over, with the Spurs centre-back undergoing ACL surgery in February, but Ange Postecoglou could welcome back three players against Chelsea. Dejan Kulusevski and Kevin Danso are both expected back after recent injury blows, while Postecoglou indicated Richarlison “should be there or thereabouts” after missing the last five league games with a calf problem.
West Ham
Vladimir Coufal and Niclas Fullkrug are in contention to return against Wolves, but Crysencio Summerville is still some time away. The Dutch winger hasn’t played since January due to a thigh injury, but manager Graham Potter could welcome him back in May.
Michail Antonio hasn’t set himself a return date after breaking his leg in a car accident, but is confident of resuming his career. “I’m 100 per cent I’ll be back on the pitch,” the forward told BBC Morning Live in mid-March.
Wolves
Leon Chiwone, Yerson Mosquera and Enso Gonzalez are all likely out for the season with knee injuries, while Sasa Kalajdzic wasn’t included in the Premier League squad after his own ACL tear. Matheus Cunha will also be missing for the next two games, with his suspension extended, but the striker will be available to face Tottenham on April 13.
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