International break injury watch: Fernandes, Gakpo, Ballard latest
The international break is in progress and with national teams playing several matches over this period, there's a high chance Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers will head into Gameweek 6 with injury issues. Here, we keep track of some of the main concerns.
We’ll keep this list updated throughout the break, with our new-look team news and predicted lineups article our final say on the likely starters and absentees in Gameweek 6 nearer to the deadline.
The withdrawals
Some players didn’t even make it to the break before pulling out of their country’s squads.
Joao Pedro - the second highest-owned player in FPL - was among them.
The Brazilian missed Gameweek 5 with a reported knee complaint and pulled out of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
A minor muscle issue was to blame for Cole Palmer missing out for England, who saw a number of players ruled out.
Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento were unable to link up with the squad, alongside Reece James.
Benjamin Sesko made it a trio of Manchester United players who will not be featuring for their countries following a flare-up of a shin injury that troubled him late last season.
And Pedro Porro is expected to be out for several weeks with a hamstring injury.
Unlike Porro, it’s likely that many of these picks will be fine for Gameweek 6.
‘Load management’ was a factor for the likes of Palmer and Rice, who came into 2026/27 on the back of injury issues and a busy summer schedule respectively.
But FPL managers face a nervous wait on Pedro - and Xabi Alonso’s comments ahead of Gameweek 5 were not the most helpful in assessing whether the forward would take part against Brentford. Expect uncertainty…
ChelseaForward£7.7mJoão Pedro
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 4
- Goals
- 3
- xG
- 2.16
- Assists
- 3
- xA
- 0.18
- Shots on target
- 4
- Shots in the box
- 9
- Big chances
- 4
- Key passes
- 7
- Big chances created
- 1
- FPL points
- 33
- DefCon points
- 0
International injuries
Here is a summary of some of the injuries suffered during international matches so far.
Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes was in Portugal’s team for their match against Wales on Thursday but was not in the squad for their next game against Norway on Sunday.
National boss Jorge Jesus said the Manchester United man had a ‘complicated problem’ which he had been carrying for several games:
“He played with an injury he brought from Manchester United. He really wanted to play against Wales.
“He said he’s been dealing with that pain for about three games, and that was one of the factors that prevented him from being at his usual level against Wales.”
Portugal play again later this week, with Fernandes not yet ruled out of that match.
Man UtdMidfielder£11.9mB.Fernandes
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Goals
- 3
- xG
- 2.57
- Assists
- 1
- xA
- 1.32
- Shots on target
- 5
- Shots in the box
- 8
- Big chances
- 4
- Key passes
- 13
- Big chances created
- 1
- FPL points
- 31
- DefCon points
- 0
Patrick Dorgu
United have more than one potential injury issue to deal with ahead of Gameweek 6.
Dorgu limped off 30 minutes into Denmark’s win over Wales on Sunday and was seen holding the back of his thigh.
Man UtdMidfielder£5.8mDorgu
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Goals
- 0
- xG
- 0.78
- Assists
- 1
- xA
- 0.08
- Shots on target
- 1
- Shots in the box
- 6
- Big chances
- 2
- Key passes
- 3
- Big chances created
- 0
- FPL points
- 10
- DefCon points
- 2
Cody Gakpo
Gakpo lasted less than 20 minutes for the Netherlands against Serbia on Sunday following a heavy challenge.
The Liverpool midfielder will have a scan on his ankle.
LiverpoolMidfielder£7.2mGakpo
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Goals
- 1
- xG
- 0.64
- Assists
- 3
- xA
- 1.70
- Shots on target
- 1
- Shots in the box
- 5
- Big chances
- 0
- Key passes
- 11
- Big chances created
- 1
- FPL points
- 32
- DefCon points
- 2
Dan Ballard
Sunderland centre-back Ballard has a suspected hamstring injury in Northern Ireland’s fixture against Georgia on Friday.
He has returned to his club for assessment.
SunderlandDefender£4.9mBallard
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Clean sheets
- 1
- xCS
- 0.93
- DefCon points
- 6
- Goals
- 0
- xG
- 0.31
- Assists
- 0
- xA
- 0.17
- FPL points
- 14
- Big chances
- 1
- Big chances created
- 0
- Key passes
- 2
Alexander Isak
Isak has returned to Liverpool from the Sweden camp due to a minor thigh injury.
The club said he would be assessed and play no part in the rest of his country’s matches.
LiverpoolForward£9.1mIsak
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Goals
- 4
- xG
- 3.54
- Assists
- 0
- xA
- 0.09
- Shots on target
- 7
- Shots in the box
- 14
- Big chances
- 5
- Key passes
- 3
- Big chances created
- 0
- FPL points
- 33
- DefCon points
- 0
Lewis Hall
Thomas Tuchel did not use Hall against Spain at the weekend as a precaution. He said:
“Lewis missed some training sessions with a bit of an injury scare, so that’s why I was a bit hesitant to put him out there today, but he’s an option.
“He trained well at the end of the week, but he was out of training at the beginning of the week and we just didn’t want to take any risk because there was a lot of high speed running and defending to do.”
NewcastleDefender£5.3mHall
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Clean sheets
- 1
- xCS
- 0.87
- DefCon points
- 6
- Goals
- 1
- xG
- 0.26
- Assists
- 1
- xA
- 0.80
- FPL points
- 31
- Big chances
- 0
- Big chances created
- 2
- Key passes
- 5
Kai Havertz
Havertz was forced off in Germany’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Thursday after a challenge from Quinten Timber.
The Arsenal forward was set to undergo a scan on his hamstring after the match, with manager Jurgen Klopp unsure of the extent of the problem.
Havertz has started all five league games this season, playing 90 minutes in four of them.
An extended absence could bring Viktor Gyokeres back into the Gunners’ starting 11. He’s priced at just £7.1m.
ArsenalForward£7.6mHavertz
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Goals
- 2
- xG
- 1.67
- Assists
- 0
- xA
- 0.37
- Shots on target
- 6
- Shots in the box
- 9
- Big chances
- 2
- Key passes
- 5
- Big chances created
- 0
- FPL points
- 19
- DefCon points
- 0
Brian Brobbey
In the same game, Sunderland striker Brobbey was pictured limping heavily down the tunnel after also picking up a hamstring injury.
The Dutch forward scored a hat-trick against Manchester City in Gameweek 5.
An extended absence would be a blow to the Black Cats’ attacking prospects after a promising start that has seen them rack up the second best expected goals (xG) in the league.
SunderlandForward£5.7mBrobbey
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Goals
- 3
- xG
- 2.94
- Assists
- 0
- xA
- 0.11
- Shots on target
- 5
- Shots in the box
- 10
- Big chances
- 4
- Key passes
- 5
- Big chances created
- 1
- FPL points
- 24
- DefCon points
- 0
Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo was sent home before Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Ivory Coast.
Ghanaian FA president Kurt Okraku hinted that Semenyo’s injury was not a serious one and his withdrawal looks more precautionary in nature. He said:
“Antoine and the coach spoke and he told the coach ‘if you need me, I will come down for the medical team to re-examine me, but the truth is that my leg is swollen and we need to treat it.”
Man CityMidfielder£8.4mSemenyo
Player profileGameweek 1-5- Appearances
- 5
- Goals
- 2
- xG
- 0.34
- Assists
- 3
- xA
- 1.16
- Shots on target
- 4
- Shots in the box
- 7
- Big chances
- 0
- Key passes
- 10
- Big chances created
- 2
- FPL points
- 33
- DefCon points
- 0