Phil Foden has been one of the best Fantasy Premier League assets to own this season, picking up the fifth-most points of any player as he’s bagged 14 league goals and seven assists.
But the England star limped off after 87 minutes of Manchester City’s 3-3 Champions League quarter-final first leg clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday evening having scored a sensational goal from the edge of the penalty area.
He now faces a race against time to be fit for a prime fixture against Luton on Saturday.
Here’s what we know about Foden’s injury so far and five potential FPL replacements if he misses out.
What Pep Guardiola has said
After the game against Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola said: “It was a knock. He was grumpy with me because I made the substitution.”
Foden then called the injury “a bad dead leg” and said he hoped he would be fit to play Luton.
He then took part in training on Wednesday but could still miss out as a precaution ahead of one of Man City’s biggest games of the season.
Except Guardiola to rest a host of his big names against Luton, potentially including Foden, after Rodri said: “Every one of us can do better, even myself, but we need to rest to be honest. I do need a rest. Sometimes it is what it is and I need to adjust. But it [rest] is something we are lacking, yeah.”
Foden has featured in every Premier League game this season bar one – the 4-2 win over Crystal Palace last weekend, but both Guardiola and Foden will want to prioritise their European quarter-final.
Speaking post-match in Madrid, Foden said: “For the fans, it must have been one of the best games you could have possibly watched, two great teams with possibly the best attackers in the world going head to head. It’s what the fans want to see, with plenty of goals as well.
“Sometimes you score a bit too early. They responded really well with two quick goals and we had to settle again. I thought we grew into the game, especially in the second half. I was really happy to make the most of one of my chances. It is a fantastic result to come here and get a draw.”
Potential FPL replacements for Foden
Foden’s fitness concerns have created a predicament for FPL managers. A home match against Luton is as good as it gets – no team has conceded more away goals in the Premier League this season than the Hatters (with 38).
Foden would have been a standout captaincy candidate this weekend given his form and that fixture, but with the vital Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid looming, it seems unlikely Guardiola will risk him against a relegation-threatened side.
The good news is that there are plenty of in-form alternatives to consider. Depending on what your chip strategy is, it makes sense to target those with double gameweeks coming up.
Arsenal and Liverpool are the Gameweek 34 headliners, with the former taking on Wolves (a) and Chelsea (h) and the latter in action against Fulham (a) and Everton (a) in the Merseyside Derby.
While Mo Salah and Bukayo Saka are the obvious ones to own, there are some great differentials to consider. Kai Havertz (£7.3m) has produced five goals and five assists in his last seven league matches and earned more FPL points across that run (with 69) than any other player in the game. Despite that supreme form, he is still owned by just five per cent of managers.
If you’re keen to invest in Liverpool assets, two South Americans represent good value ahead of their double. Luis Diaz (£7.6m) has registered five goals and four assists in his previous 10 matches, while Alexis Mac Allister (£5.9m) provided attacking returns in six consecutive games before blanking against Manchester United.
Chelsea and Tottenham are the only clubs playing twice in Gameweek 35. The Blues travel to Villa Park and Spurs face north London rivals Arsenal before the clubs meet at Stamford Bridge in their second game.
Cole Palmer and Son Heung-min are both must-haves for that week, but assuming most managers already own both, Brennan Johnson (£5.8m) could be worth a short-term punt. The winger has scored two goals and set up four more in his last six appearances.
Finally, Brentford’s short-term run boosts the appeal of the fit-again Bryan Mbeumo (£6.7m), who is listed as a midfielder in FPL but plays in attack for Thomas Frank’s side. The Cameroonian capped his first league start since December with a goal against Aston Villa last weekend, and faces Sheffield United (h), Luton (a) and Everton (a) in his next three in what will be a pivotal period for the Bees.