For Nathan Jones, the World Cup couldn’t have come at a better time. In Manchester, though, Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag will be fretting. 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 Saints and Palace looking forward to a month with their feet up, to the big boys just waiting to get their excuses in.
Here’s the latest World Cup squad news.
20) Southampton – one confirmed, one probable.
Confirmed: Armel Bella-Kotchap (Germany), Probable: Mohammed Salisu (Ghana)
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 made the Germany squad but James Ward-Prowse and Duje Caleta-Car missed out on selection for England and Croatia respectively, giving new boss Nathan Jones an almost full squad to work with for six weeks.
19) Crystal Palace – One confirmed, one probable.
Confirmed: Joachim Andersen (Denmark) Probable: Jordan Ayew (Ghana)
Marc Guehi missed out on the England squad but Andersen made Denmark’s first batch of call-ups. Ayew is expected to be in the Ghana squad but Jeffrey Schlupp is expected to be left out.
18) Leeds United – three confirmed.
Confirmed: Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams (USA), Rasmus Kristensen (Denmark).
Leeds’ American duo are Qatar-bound, as is Kristensen after he made Denmark’s first 21. Mateusz Klich and Robin Koch missed out on selection for Poland and Germany respectively, while Luis Enrique ignored Diego Llorente and Rodrigo.
17) Bournemouth – two confirmed, two possibles.
Confirmed: Chris Mepham, Kieffer Moore (Wales); Possibles: Philip Billing (Denmark), Marcos Senesi (Argentina)
As expected, Mepham and Moore were both selected by Wales but Billing faces an anxious wait to see if he is given one of the five remaining spots on Denmark’s roster.
16) Everton – four confirmed.
Confirmed: Idrissa Gueye (Senegal), Jordan Pickford, Conor Coady (England), Amadou Onana (Belgium).
Gueye was in the Senegal squad named on Friday morning, 24 hours after Onana received word he was heading to Qatar with Belgium. Pickford and Coady’s selections for England were never in doubt.
15) Brentford – four confirmed, one probable, one possible.
Confirmed: Mathias Jensen, Mikkel Damsgaard (Denmark), Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), David Raya (Spain); Probable: Saman Ghoddos (Iran), Possible: Christian Norgaard (Denmark).
Jensen and Damsgaard are in Denmark’s initial squad, with Norgaard hoping to take one of the five remaining spots but his fitness is a worry. Raya is among Spain’s three keepers. Mbeumo switched allegiance to Cameroon in the summer and he’s been given the nod for Qatar. No Ivan Toney in England’s squad.
14) Wolves – three confirmed, two probables.
Confirmed: Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes, Jose Sa (Portugal); Probables: Raul Jimenez (Mexico), Hwang Hee-chan (South Korea).
Only three Wolves in the Portugal squad, with Joao Moutinho and Goncalo Guedes axed, and Pedro Neto ruled out of the tournament through injury. Raul Jimenez is also battling to prove his fitness for Mexico.
13) West Ham – five confirmed.
Confirmed: Declan Rice (England), Alphonse Areola (France), Lucas Paqueta (Brazil), Thilo Kehrer (Germany), Nayef Aguerd (Morocco).
Jarrod Bowen has struggled to replicate last season’s form which saw him miss the cut for England. Aguerd has recovered from injury in time to take his seat on Morocco’s plane.
12) Aston Villa – four confirmed, one probable, one possible.
Confirmed: Jan Bednarek, Matty Cash (Poland), Lucas Digne (France), Leander Dendoncker (Belgium); Probable: Emiliano Martinez (Argentina); Possible: Emi Buendia (Argentina).
Philippe Coutinho and Douglas Luiz both missed out on the Brazil squad, while Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins also stay at home while their England colleagues are getting off to Qatar.
11) Nottingham Forest – five confirmed.
Confirmed: Wayne Hennessey, Neco Williams, Brennan Johnson (Wales), Remo Freuler (Switzerland), Cheikhou Koyate (Senegal).
Freuler and Williams are perhaps the only Forest representatives likely to start in Qatar. Dean Henderson was fourth on the list of England goalkeepers but unless any of the first three pick up an injury this weekend, he’ll be watching from home.
10) Newcastle United – five confirmed.
Confirmed: Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson (England), Fabian Schar (Switzerland), Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil).
Bruno Guimaraes is in the Brazil squad but Joelinton misses out. Three Magpies make the England squad – only Manchester City have provided more players for the Three Lions. There was bad news for Sven Botman on Friday when he was omitted from Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands squad.
Booking their place at the #FIFAWorldCup! 🙌🏴
Huge congratulations, lads! ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/HVIqKngTEI
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 10, 2022
9) Fulham – five confirmed, one probable.
Confirmed: Harry Wilson, Dan James (Wales), Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream (USA), Joao Palhinha (Portugal); Probable: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia).
Ream returns to the USA squad alongside Robinson and while Harris didn’t make Wales’ 26-man squad, he will travel to Qatar as back-up. Kevin Mbabau was left out by Switzerland. Mitrovic will go with Serbia if he has to play on one leg.
8) Brighton – three confirmed, five probables.
Confirmed: Kaoru Mitoma (Japan), Leandro Trossard (Belgium), Robert Sanchez (Spain); Probables: Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina), Tariq Lamptey (Ghana), Moises Caicedo, Pervis Estupinan, Jeremy Sarmiento (Ecuador).
Mitoma is in Japan’s squad and Trossard is boarding Belgium’s plane. Mac Allister is well-placed to make Argentina’s 26 and Sanchez is set to be back-up keeper for Spain.
7) Leicester – six confirmed.
Confirmed: James Maddison (England), Danny Ward (Wales), Youri Tielemans, Timothy Castagne, Wout Faes (Belgium), Nampalys Mendy (Senegal).
You probably haven’t heard: England have called up James Maddison. Three Foxes are in Roberto Martinez’s Belgium squad – Dennis Praet isn’t one of them.
Read more: James Maddison is the transformer and the difference-maker for Leicester and maybe England
6) Liverpool – seven confirmed.
Confirmed: Alisson, Fabinho (Brazil), Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold (England), Virgil Van Dijk (Netherlands), Darwin Nunez (Uruguay), Ibrahima Konate (France).
Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to be affected as badly as some of the other Big Six bosses. Indeed, of Liverpool’s regulars, Mo Salah, Luis Diaz, Thiago, Roberto Firmino and Andy Robertson will all have their feet up, so he can afford to be reasonably relaxed, even if he says he’s not: “It’s really, really hard, but that’s the situation and it’s the same for all of us and that’s the only good thing about it.”
5) Arsenal – nine confirmed, one probable.
Confirmed: Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, Ben White (England), Granit Xhaka (Switzerland), Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli (Brazil), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Japan), Matt Turner (USA), William Saliba (France); Probable: Thomas Partey (Ghana)
Martinelli (much to this fella’s disgust) and Gabriel made the Brazil cut but Gabriel Magalhaes did not. White’s versatility and injuries to other England defenders got him in Southgate’s squad, while Saliba made the cut for France.
4) Tottenham – 10 confirmed, one probable.
Confirmed: Harry Kane, Eric Dier (England), Heung-min Son (South Korea), Hugo Lloris (France), Richarlison (Brazil), Rodrigo Bentancur (Uruguay), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Denmark), Ivan Perisic (Croatia), Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal), Ben Davies (Wales); Probable: Cristian Romero (Argentina).
The South Korea squad hadn’t been announced when it was confirmed Son Heung-min would be included despite his eye injury. Richarlison is also expected to win his fitness race and is in Brazil’s squad. Cristian Romero should be fit for Argentina when their squad is announced on Monday.
3) Chelsea – 12 confirmed.
Probables: Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal), Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling, Conor Gallagher (England), Cesar Azpilicueta (Spain), Thiago Silva (Brazil), Christian Pulisic (USA), Kai Havertz (Germany), Matteo Kovacic (Croatia), Hakim Ziyech (Morocco), Denis Zakaria (Switzerland).
Good and bad news for Chelsea surrounding their England representatives. Ben Chilwell never stood a chance after his injury; Reece James was willing to try but Southgate was not; while Conor Gallagher earned a surprise call-up at James Ward-Prowse’s expense. No N’Golo Kante for France because of his fitness concerns.
2) Manchester United – 13 confirmed, one probable, one possible.
Probables: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot (Portugal), Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford (England), Raphael Varane (France), Christian Eriksen (Denmark), Tyrell Malacia (Netherlands), Facundo Pellistri (Uruguay), Casemiro, Fred, Antony (Brazil); Probable: Lisandro Martinez (Argentina); Possible: Alejandro Garnacho (Argentina)
Rashford did enough to earn an England recall, while Brazil are taking all three United hopefuls. Varane is winning his battle to recover from a hamstring problem having been named in Didier Deschamps’ France squad. Garnacho is reportedly on Argentina’s 28-man list and presumably desperate to avoid being one of the last two to be cut.
1) Manchester City – 15 confirmed, one probable.
Probables: Kyle Walker, John Stones, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Kalvin Phillips (England), Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva (Portugal), Rodri, Aymeric Laporte (Spain), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Ederson (Brazil), Ilkay Gundogan (Germany), Manuel Akanji (Switzerland), Nathan Ake (Netherlands), Probable: Julian Alvarez (Argentina)
City provide more England players than any other club. There were fitness doubts over Walker and Phillips but both have enough credit in the bank for Southgate to take a risk on the City pair. Reece James, evidently, did not. Alvarez, like Garnacho, is hoping to avoid the final cut when Argentina whittle their squad down from 28 to 26.
Read more: World Cup squads: latest news on who’s going to Qatar, and when we’ll discover who’s not…
