For some managers, the World Cup will be a lovely break. Others will be fretting like f***. Here’s how we’ve ranked the clubs by how much they might be affected…
There has long been concern over what a mid-season World Cup would mean for Premier League clubs and their players.
Some clubs can afford to be quite relaxed about it all. Others have rather more to worry about when it comes to fixture congestion and player burn-out.
Here’s how we’ve ranked the Premier League clubs on how much they will be affected, from Bournemouth and Saints looking forward to a month with their feet up, to the big boys just waiting to get their excuses in.
Oh and here’s a list of very good players definitely *not* going. And here is the latest World Cup squad news.
20) Bournemouth – five in contention: two probables, three possibles
Probables: Chris Mepham and Kieffer Moore (Wales); Possibles: Philip Billing (Denmark), Marcos Senesi (Argentina), David Brooks (Wales)
Senesi was left out of the Argentina squad for the last friendlies before the finals while, wonderful story though it would be, Brooks is a rank outsider to make Wales’ squad alongside Mepham and Moore while he continues to build up his fitness after being declared cancer-free. But Billing is in with a good chance of making Denmark’s final cut after being named in their most recent squad.
19) Southampton – four in contention: two probables, two possibles
Probables: James Ward-Prowse (England), Mohammed Salisu (Ghana) Possibles: Walker-Peters (England), Armel Bella-Kotchap (Germany)
Walker-Peters is an almost-certainly-not for England after taking his place among the growing ranks of injured England right-backs by suffering hamstring twang against Bournemouth. After resisting call-ups for the last three years, Salisu suddenly decided he was bang up for Ghana after they qualified for Qatar. Odd that. Bella-Kotchap has a big old question mark against his name after dislocating his shoulder.
18) Everton – six in contention: three probables, three possibles
Probables: Idrissa Gueye (Senegal), Jordan Pickford, Conor Coady (England); Possibles: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, James Tarkowski (England), Amadou Onana (Belgium)
Gareth Southgate loves Coady and his leadership could be seen as vital if he’s surrounded by younger centre-backs in the England squad. Calvert-Lewin is running out of time, if he hasn’t already, but Onana might fancy his chances if he maintains his fine start,…
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