FPL injuries: The players who will miss Gameweek 1

  • 2024/25 Premier League season is four weeks away
  • FPL is now active for managers looking to build their squads
  • A number of players will miss the beginning of the campaign
Evan Ferguson is among the injured FPL stars
Evan Ferguson is among the injured FPL stars / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages
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We may still be weeks away from the 2024/25 season, but eager Fantasy Premier League managers can already select their squads for the upcoming campaign.

Once you have selected your funny team name (Alisson Wonderland, Baines on Toast etc.), you will be able to lock in your first draft for the new campaign. However, bosses need to avoid those pesky red flags which signal that a player is guaranteed to miss the next match.

So, before you select your dream squad, here are the players who will miss Gameweek 1 of the new Premier League season.


Pervis Estupinan (Brighton)

Pervis Estupiñán
The left-back will miss the start of the season / Richard Heathcote/GettyImages

Pervis Estupinan has been an FPL favourite for quite some time following some impressive attacking returns for Brighton. However, the attack-minded left-back struggled with injuries last season and is set to miss the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign with a knee injury sustained last April.

At £5m, the South American would have been a popular option to kick off the campaign with in FPL, but a September return has been mooted. The Seagulls' tricky start to the season means managers may have dodged a bullet, especially given Roberto De Zerbi has been replaced by 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler.


Evan Ferguson (Brighton)

Evan Ferguson
Ferguson has made a quick start to Premier League life / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

Brighton were dealt another blow last April, with Evan Ferguson also sustaining a nasty long-term injury. The Irishman only managed 27 appearances and six goals last season, but could have been a handy third-choice striker at £5.5m.

Ferguson isn't expected back until October but that means Joao Pedro (£5.5m) may be a guaranteed starter at the beginning of the campaign. He produced a respectable 104 points last season and offers a route into Brighton's attack.


Solly March (Brighton)

Solly March
March is Brighton's most expensive FPL asset / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Having established himself as an excellent FPL asset during the 2022/23 season with 14 goal contributions, injuries limited Solly March to just seven appearances last season. However, the winger has retained his value and is Brighton's joint-most expensive player at £6.5m.

Having been missing since last October, March will likely be eased back into the team and is set to return at some point in September. As an FPL candidate, he's likely not worth the risk.


Reece James (Chelsea)

Reece James
James is suspended for the start of the season / Stu Forster/GettyImages

While not injured - for once - Reece James will still miss the start of the Premier League season under new boss Enzo Maresca. The right-back was sent off for violent conduct at the end of last season during a clash with Brighton and was handed a four-match ban given it was his second dismissal of the season.

When James returns, he could be an excellent option. Providing the Chelsea star can stay fit, his £5m price tag makes him incredible value given the possibility of attacking returns.


Sven Botman (Newcastle)

Sven Botman
Botman is sidelined for some time / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

Sven Botman has often provided a cheap way into the Newcastle United defence, but he is out of action for the foreseeable future. An anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in March means he is sidelined until the end of the calendar year at the very least.

While not the most significant asset in FPL, he would have been a good rotation option given his £4.5m price tag. Unfortunately, Jamaal Lascelles (£4.5m) is also out for the next few months with an ACL tear and he would have been a great Newcastle alternative.


Nelson Semedo (Wolves)

Nelson Semedo, Chris Kavanagh
Nelson Semedo is also suspended / James Baylis - AMA/GettyImages

If you fancied an offensive full-back for a cheap price at a mid-table club, you'll have to look beyond Nelson Semedo. The £4.5m Wolves defender is also suspended for the start of the term after being handed a red card on the final day of last season against Liverpool.

A slightly harsh decision, the Portuguese will miss the first three matches of the new season regardless. Given his first two outings are against Arsenal and Chelsea, he may not prove a big miss for managers.


All guaranteed injuries and suspensions for FPL Gameweek 1

Player

Club

Price

Issue

Expected return date

Boubacar Kamara

Aston Villa

£5m

Knee injury

September 2024

Pervis Estupinan

Brighton

£5m

Ankle injury

September 2024

Solly March

Brighton

£6.5m

Ankle injury

September 2024

Evan Ferguson

Brighton

£5.5m

Knee injury

October 2024

Reece James

Chelsea

£5m

Suspended

September 2024

Sandro Tonali

Newcastle

£5.5m

Suspended

September 2024

Lewis Miley

Newcastle

£5m

Foot injury

September 2024

Sven Botman

Newcastle

£4.5m

Knee injury

December 2024

Jamaal Lascelles

Newcastle

£4.5m

Knee injury

December 2024

Nelson Semedo

Wolves

£4.5m

Suspended

September 2024


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