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Premier League absentees: Who is returning from the international break injured?

Mohamed Salah, Idrissa Gueye and Sokratis picked up knocks on international duty

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane
Image: Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are both doubts following injuries in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

The Premier League is back this weekend following the international break, but which sides are now carrying new injuries?

With a whole host of fixtures played across the globe, including UEFA Nations League matches and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, a number of Premier League managers have been handed fresh selection headaches as the club v country debate rumbles on.

We take a closer look at the clubs who have been impacted by injuries picked up in the latest international break…

Arsenal

Sokratis came off against Finland with an ankle problem
Image: Sokratis came off against Finland with an ankle problem

Sokratis Papastathopoulos came off at half-time in Greece's 2-1 defeat to Finland on Monday with an ankle problem and is now being assessed by Arsenal ahead of their clash with Leicester - live on Sky Sports Premier League - on Sunday.

Danny Welbeck had to withdraw from Gareth Southgate's England squad with a hamstring injury and is being monitored ahead of a possible return this weekend.

Brighton

Cameroon ruled Gaetan Bong out of their Africa Cup of Nations tie against Malawi on Tuesday due to a suspected knock, but he could return for Chris Hughton's side this weekend.

Chelsea

Ethan Ampadu and Saul Niguez battle at the Principality Stadium
Image: Ethan Ampadu was forced to leave the pitch against Spain through injury

Ethan Ampadu limped off 50 minutes into Wales' heavy 4-1 defeat to Spain on Thursday and is only a slight doubt for Chelsea's encounter with Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime, live on Sky Sports Premier League.

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Antonio Rudiger was called up to Germany's squad for matches against France and Holland but was forced to pull out due to a groin injury. He could return for the United match.

Crystal Palace

Wilfried Zaha is undergoing tests after returning injured from international duty with Ivory Coast
Image: Wilfried Zaha is undergoing tests after returning injured from international duty with Ivory Coast

Crystal Palace have refused to confirm whether Wilfried Zaha is undergoing tests for a suspected adductor injury after he withdrew from the Ivory Coast squad ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Central African Republic on Tuesday. Further injury details surrounding Palace's top scorer are not yet known.

Everton

Idrissa Gueye went off with an ankle injury in Senegal's 3-0 victory over Sudan on Saturday night after he was on the receiving end of a strong challenge. Gueye, who scored Senegal's second goal in Dakar, has already missed games against Rotherham and Huddersfield this season with a knee injury.

Liverpool

The Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has taken its toll on three of Liverpool's stars.

Sadio Mane broke his thumb in a Senegal training session and is set to be monitored after undergoing a 'successful' procedure on the injury.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Naby Keita (Guinea) both picked up hamstring injuries. With Keita's injury looking the most serious out of the trio, Salah and Mane are only slight doubts to face Huddersfield on Saturday evening.

Virgil van Dijk scored the Netherlands' opener against Germany in the Nations League
Image: Virgil van Dijk is recovering from a rib injury

Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman started Virgil van Dijk against Germany on Saturday and he scored in their 3-0 victory in the UEFA Nations League. The 27-year-old was rested for Tuesday's friendly against Belgium as he recovers from a rib injury.

Huddersfield

Huddersfield are monitoring the fitness of Philip Billing after he picked up an ankle injury in training ahead of Denmark U21s' final UEFA U21 Championship qualifier against Faroe Islands on Tuesday.

Manchester City

Danilo was hurt playing for Brazil against Argentina
Image: Danilo was hurt playing for Brazil against Argentina

Danilo left the pitch in tears during Brazil's 1-0 win against Argentina in Saudi Arabia. The 27-year-old had just returned from an ankle injury last month and he appears to have damaged the same place again. City are monitoring his fitness ahead of their home fixture against Burnley.

Manchester United

Nemanja Matic remains a doubt to face Chelsea on Saturday as he continues to recover from a back injury which saw him withdraw from the Serbia squad for their Nations League matches against Montenegro and Romania last week.

Marouane Fellaini "should be fine" for Manchester United's clash with Chelsea on Saturday, according to Belgium boss Roberto Martinez. The former Everton midfielder was not involved on Tuesday in Belgium's 1-1 draw with Holland as he was struggling for fitness.

Luke Shaw arrived at St George's Park ahead of England's Nations League fixtures but was quickly ruled out with a thigh injury.

Newcastle

Ciaran Clark missed Republic of Ireland's 1-0 defeat to Wales in the UEFA Nations League after he picked up a thigh problem in training. The 29-year-old defender appears to be a doubt ahead of Newcastle's game against Brighton on Saturday.

Tottenham

Kenya's captain Victor Wanyama scored from the spot in their 3-0 win over Ethiopia on Sunday, but he was substituted late in the second half with a hamstring problem. After the game, Kenya coach Sebastian Migne said the problem was "not serious" and that his removal was a precautionary measure.

Danny Rose was forced to withdraw from England's squad with a minor groin problem but he could return this weekend.

West Ham

Arthur Masuaku left the pitch after 82 minutes during DR Congo's 2-1 loss to Zimbabwe with a slight knock and is likely to be fit to face Tottenham on Saturday. Robert Snodgrass is expected to overcome his ankle injury picked up in Scotland training following their Nations League defeat to Israel.

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