Premier League injury and team news: Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount among stars absent
Updated 24/12/2024 at 16:01 GMT
Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United have all given injury updates on key players ahead of the Boxing Day fixtures. Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim have all confirmed high-profile absentees expected during the festive period, while there have also been updates from Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford.
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The festive football fixtures are upon us with the matches coming thick and fast over the Christmas period.
Premier League managers have been giving fitness updates ahead of the Boxing Day fixtures and beyond.
Arsenal: Saka and Sterling ruled out
The big injury news from the Premier League in the past week is that Bukayo Saka has suffered an injury which could require a lengthy lay-off, in a huge blow to Arsenal's title hopes.
Saka is expected to be out for around eight weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury in the early stages of The Gunners' 5-1 win over Crystal Palace.
"It’s not looking good, he’s going to be out for many weeks," Mikel Arteta said in a press conference on Monday. "I cannot be too specific because I do not know, but it’s going to be many weeks."
It remains to be seen who will take Saka's place on the right-hand side when Arsenal face Ipswich Town on Friday, but we know it will not be his natural replacement in Raheem Sterling, who is also absent.
Sterling joins Saka, Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the Arsenal injury list after he injured his knee in training ahead of the Palace clash.
"He’s going to be out for weeks, I believe," the Arsenal manager said. "He needs some further testing.
"It’s his knee; we will have to see in 24 hours, but unfortunately, he is going to be out for a while."
Man City: Dias to miss up to a month
It goes from bad to worse for the champions, with Ruben Dias the latest defensive injury Pep Guardiola has to deal with ahead of their Boxing Day clash against Everton.
Defenders Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and John Stones have all missed recent games for Manchester City, who have lost nine of their last 12 matches across all competitions.
Guardiola revealed Dias will be sidelined for "three or four weeks" after sustaining a muscle injury in the stunning defeat to rivals Manchester United.
"It's muscular," Guardiola said. "[He played] 75 minutes against United and he felt something but he is so strong and wanted to stay on the pitch."
Although Stones made a brief return from injury in City's defeat to Aston Villa, he was substituted at half-time, with fears growing that he suffered a reoccurrence of a previous foot injury.
"I don't know, if he can't continue in the second half at Villa Park then maybe he won't be available," Guardiola said on Tuesday.
Matheus Nunes and goalkeeper Ederson are also a doubt.
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Man Utd: Mount out for 'several weeks'
It has been a turbulent start to Mason Mount's Man United career since joining from Chelsea in 2023, as the midfielder continues to struggle with his fitness.
Ruben Amorim revealed that Mount will be unavailable for "several weeks" after he was forced off after just 14 minutes in the Manchester Derby.
Mount was visibly distressed when he headed down the tunnel, with Amorim saying the player was "very sad" to suffer another setback.
"I don't know the exact date, but it's going to be for long," Amorim added. "And that’s it, it's part of football and you continue."
Elsewhere, Marcus Rashford can expect to remain frozen out after being left out of the Portuguese manager's last three squads.
Rashford said he is "ready for a new challenge" in a recent interview, seemingly looking for a move out of Old Trafford, which has not gone down well with the new boss.
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Chelsea: Lavia out for Boxing Day clash
Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Romeo Lavia will not be back in time for Chelsea's match against Fulham on Boxing Day.
The midfielder has missed his side's last two fixtures, but will not be back in time for the west London derby.
"He is still recovering," said Maresca. "It is much better, but unfortunately, he is not ready for the next game."
Brentford: Frank gives update on trio
Thomas Frank has revealed that Kristoffer Ajer can expect to "be out for weeks" after picking up an ankle injury in the defeat to Nottingham Forest, after only recently returning from a seven-week lay-off.
Ethan Pinnock will also be out for a similar time after sustaining a hamstring injury, but in more positive news, Sepp van den Berg is close to a return.
The turnaround for the match against Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday will be "too short" for the defender, but Frank said he could be fit enough to face Arsenal on Christmas day.
Brighton: March could make long-awaited return
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Solly March
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As for Brighton, boss Fabian Hurzeler has given a few positive updates on Adam Webster, Solly March and Jan Paul van Hecke.
March, who has not played for well over a year since suffering a knee injury against Man City, is "doing really well" and could make his return against Brentford.
Webster will also "hopefully be an option" for Brighton, according to Hurzeler, who admitted Mats Wieffer will have to be assessed after he was forced off against West Ham United, shortly after scoring in the 1-1 draw.
"Warrior" Jan Paul van Hecke can also expect to "be an option" to face Brentford, Hurzeler said.
Newcastle: Updates on Willock, Pope and Joelinton
In a boost for Newcastle, Joelinton could be available for their match against Aston Villa on Boxing Day. He required some minor face surgery in the wake of The Magpies' EFL Cup win over Brentford, where he was forced off at half-time.
He missed the Ipswich game anyway through suspension, but Howe said he "hopes" the Brazilian can return for Villa.
Howe also revealed that Joe Willock is "fine" after he suffered a collision in the Ipswich game and had to be substituted.
As for Nick Pope, the goalkeeper is reportedly doing well in his rehabilitation from a knee injury, but will not be available for the Villa game.
"Nick is doing okay," Howe said on Pope. "He was given a timeframe initially where he had to rest, and he’s had a couple of injections in his knee and is feeling better.
"He’s feeling strong, but quite when he’ll be fit is a difficult one to give a definitive date on."
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Everton: McNeil unlikely to feature
Dwight McNeil is "touch and go" for Everton's trip to Man City, according to Sean Dyche, but will only be out for a short period and does not expect him to feature at Etihad Stadium.
Ashley Young is unavailable through suspension, while James Garner (back) and Tim Iroegbunam (foot) remain the only other absentees for The Toffees.
Wolves: Lemina doubtful for Man Utd visit
Mario Lemina was missing from Vitor Pereira’s first Premier League squad as Wolverhampton Wanderers boss through injury, which was described as a minor calf injury.
It remains to be seen whether the former club captain will return to the fold when Man United visit Molineux on Boxing Day, especially after a great start to life under Pereira with a 3-0 win against Leicester City.
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