Premier League Opening Weekend: Biggest Injury Doubts

The Premier League kicks off next week, and there are more than a few injury doubts for the opening weekend.

Heading into Week 1, every manager will be guarding problems that may arise and disrupt an entire summer of planning for the new campaign.

Transfers this close to the season start will be aimed at improving squad depth, although in certain cases, first-team players will be allowed to leave if the offer proves too good to turn down. Training will be toned down to lessen the likelihood of injuries and some players will be wrapped in cotton wool to be ready for the big day.

An injury to a key player can ruin an entire season for many teams.

Here, I take a look at the biggest Premier League injury doubts heading into the opening weekend.

Goalkeepers: None

At this moment in time, there are no real goalkeeping injury worries in the Premier League.

Manchester United's David De Gea is carrying a slight thumb and wrist injury, but is not expected to miss the Red Devils' opening game against Swansea City.

After that it's good news all around as there are no other goalkeepers reported injured.

Fantasy football managers should avoid Liverpool's Pepe Reina and Norwich City's Declan Rudd. Both are carrying injury tags, but have in actual fact been loaned out to other leagues for the entire season and will therefore be unavailable to play.

Defenders: Vertonghen, Evans and Vermaelen Risk Missing out

The official Premier League website rates heavy hitter Jan Vertonghen as having a 50 percent chance of making Tottenham Hotspur's opener.

Vertonghen is joined in the 50 percent rating by his ex-teammate Sebastien Bassong, who is now at Norwich City.

Manchester City's Matija Nastasic is definitely out for the start of Manuel Pellegrini's first campaign at the Etihad. He is expected back towards the end of September.

Thomas Vermaelen is also definitely out. The Arsenal skipper will hardly be missed, considering his recent form, and is expected to return from a back injury in mid-September. He is joined in the physio room by recent signing Nacho Monreal, who also has a back injury. The Spaniard has a 75 percent chance of playing.

Elsewhere, Manchester United's Jonny Evans is carrying a knock to his ankle, and Rafael has been struggling with a foot injury, Aston Villa's Joe Bennett is a doubt with yet another lower leg injury and Liverpool's main central-defensive pairing of Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel remain major worries for Brendan Rodgers.

The pair was left out of the Reds' recent friendly loss to Celtic. If they do not return to normal duty then Kolo Toure and Andre Wisdom will probably pick up the slack. 

Newcastle United's Ryan Taylor will almost definitely miss another entire campaign. The versatile left-sided player tore his anterior cruciate ligament last August and recently flew to the United States, according to the Daily Mail, for a career-saving operation, but is not expected to return this season (per the BBC).

He is one of a number of injured Newcastle players. Fabricio Coloccini is suffering from a groin injury while a couple of forwards remain doubtful.

West Bromwich Albion's Jonas Olsson, who impressed so much last season, is currently dealing with an Achilles tendinopathy problem, but is not expected to miss out next week. His problem is worth watching, though, as he is supremely important to their defense. Diego Lugano, a recent signing for the Baggies, should miss out next week as he is not yet match fit.

Chelsea's David Luiz and Everton's Antolin Alcaraz are both carrying niggling hamstring injuries while West Ham's George McCartney is out with a medial collateral ligament injury.

Mauricio Pochettino and Southampton received a blow when Luke Shaw limped off in the Saints' preseason friendly against Real Sociedad. The left back is now expected to be out of action for some time with suspected knee ligament damage.

Midfield: Bale, Mata, Nani and Holtby Doubtful

There are very few midfielders who are not expected to be available for the opening game of the season.

The official Premier League website only records injuries that are likely to keep a player out for the coming matches. They have Norwich City's Anthony Pilkington and Hull City Tigers' Stephen Quinn both rated at just 50/50 and Fulham's Alexander Kacaniklic rated as having a 75 percent chance of playing.

The highest-profile player who will definitely miss out is Abou Diaby. The injury-prone Arsenal midfielder tore his ACL in March and is not expected back any time soon. Charles N'Zogbia is also likely to miss out for Aston Villa with an Achilles injury.

Stoke City's American import Brek Shea will almost certainly be out after sustaining an MCL injury just days after joining the Premier League outfit from MLS side FC Dallas.

Outside of those players, there are a small number of midfielders carrying niggling injuries.

Nani and Ashley Young are struggling to shake off a recent knocks at Manchester United, Ryo Miyaichi and Jack Wilshere are dealing with minor complaints at Arsenal and Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata is trying to overcome a small knock.

Tottenham Hotspur seem to be struggling in midfield. Lewis Holtby, Sandro and Gareth Bale are all dealing with minor injuries that have kept their preseason to a minimum.

One injury worth noting is Jonjo Shelvey's at Swansea City. The recent signing from Liverpool is dealing with an illness and may not recover in time for the opening game of the campaign.

Forwards: Rooney, Bellamy and Aguero May Not Make It

The highest-profile Premier League player to miss out on the beginning of the 2013-14 campaign is Liverpool's Luis Suarez.

That is not down to injury. The Liverpool striker is suspended for the opening six games of the season and should be treated like the injured players as far as Fantasy Football teams are concerned.

Between hamstring injuries and shoulder injuries, Wayne Rooney is regarded as a 50/50 for Manchester United's first game at Swansea City. West Ham's Andy Carroll, now a permanent fixture at Upton Park, has not featured much of late and is also rated at 50/50.

As are Newcastle United's recent addition Loic Remy, Sunderland's Steven Fletcher and Cardiff City's recent Danish acquisition Andreas Cornelius. To add to Cardiff's woes, Craig Bellamy is dealing with an illness, but he is expected back next week.

Crystal Palace's Glenn Murray will definitely miss out. The prolific striker tore his ACL in May and therefore may not return this season. 

Manchester City only have three players in the treatment room, but one of those is Sergio Aguero.

The superb Argentine missed a small portion of last season with a knee injury and he will be keen to lead the new-look City forward line.

He is currently struggling with a minor knee injury, but is not expected to miss substantial game time.

 

All injury statistics provided by:

The official Premier League website.

www.physioroom.com

www.injuryleague.com

 

 

You can follow me on Twitter @WillieGannon. 

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