Africa Cup of Nations Squads

Assessing the FPL impact of CAF's Showcase Tournament

Beginning January 13 the Africa Cup of Nations will draw the eyes of the world with 24 countries vying for the title of best on the continent. A little more than two weeks remains until the curtain-raiser between Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau and managers are announcing their final squads for the tournament. Between 13 January and 11 February there will be four game weeks with the first - GW21 - split over two weekends. Players should not be counted on to return to your fantasy Premier League side until GW 25 which runs 17-19 of February.

Because of the odd mid-season nature of the two tournaments, there is also a late registration date for final squads. I’ll do my best to update this article after the 3 January deadline for nations to cut their provisional 55 man squads down to tournament size. There are only two (2) EPL squads which will be unaffected by the tournaments with neither Manchester City or Newcastle claiming any prominent players from nations playing in either tournament. That’s great for FPL managers, not as good for their opponents and - frankly - a small bit of light for Newcastle already facing significant challenges this season.

The players below are listed by Premier League team (alphabetically) and surname (also alphabetically) with writeups only for the players with significant FPL value. Shouts to many resources including the CAF, BBC, various reporters and official accounts on social media and FBref for player stats. Injury data via Premier Injuries. Listed schedules are for GW 21-24 and are accurate as of 31 December 2023. Happy New Year!

Africa Cup of Nations

Arsenal - Palace (H), Forest (a), Liverpool (H), West Ham (a)

Mohamed Elneny (Midfielder, Egypt) | Thomas Partey (Midfielder, Ghana)

The Gunners’ AFCON absences will do more to weaken their bench than significantly dent their title aspirations or your FPL side. Elneny’s absence may go wholly unnoticed while Partey hasn’t yet been confirmed for Ghana and is possible to miss out entirely while dealing with a significant muscle strain. His four appearances (3 starts) haven’t been much to follow and he’s scoring fewer than seven points per match (7 PPM).

Aston Villa - Everton (a), Newcastle (H), Sheffield Utd (a), Man United (H)

Bertrand Traore (Midfielder, Burkina Faso)

The 28 year old has featured sparingly for Unai Emery’s Villans (11’ EPL).

Brentford - Liverpool (H), West Ham (a), Forest (H), Fulham (a)

Frank Onyeka (Midfielder, Nigeria) | Yoane Wissa (Forward, DR Congo)

25 year old midfielder Onyeka may not be a familiar name to more casual FPL players (I know, I know, so many of those here…) and hasn’t done much to support your chances of winning. He does make a shedload of appearances (16 to date) and eats minutes (742’) but has only one appearance with more than seven points, coming in the 3-2 win over West Ham when he had two key passes and an assist. Yoane Wissa is a bigger miss. The forward has scored four goals with a pair of FPL assists while featuring in every match. Wissa’s absence will open minutes for - dare I say it - Neal Maupay and you know I’m not shy about streaming Maupay. He’s got three decent fixtures for a return and already has two goals and three assists in limited opportunties (696’). Keane Lewis-Potter is also there with the 22 year old potentially taking the opportunity to secure more first-team minutes down the stretch.

The biggest potential miss has not happened, but Bryan Mbuemo being omitted from Cameroon’s squad is not a win for the Bees. Whenever your manager is this, ahem, frank about a player’s prognosis you know it isn’t good.

“He’s become the key man – 'give me the ball, I’ll take this'. Who will that man be now? We’ll find out in the next weeks. Bryan’s injury is a clear one – it’s bad luck. He got caught, got pushed and rolled his ankle. It’s very frustrating, but I’m a positive guy and we’ll find a solution.” - Thomas Frank on Mbuemo’s ankle injury

The silver lining is the pending return to play of suspended Ivan Toney. He’s been back training with Brentford for months and is set to end his protracted absence when the Bees host Forest of the 20th. My best guess is a a Toney / Maupay front two with Frank looking to jump start an anemic offense which has scored only four goals in the last five matches (all losses). Toney is 84% selected while Maupay is still only 15% so it’s rather obvious which is easiest to add for the next month.

Brighton - Wolves (H), Luton (a), Palace (H), Spurs (a)

Simon Adingra (Forward, Ivory Coast) | Tariq Lamptey (Defender, Ghana)

Only two Seagulls are possible to miss out and if you had to pick two names off this squad sheet it’s hard to pick two at more opposite ends of the FPL spectrum. Adingra has been ever-present this year with four goals, an assist and nearly 9 PPM which makes his 55% selection a bit of a shock. Currently dealing with a hamstring injury, it’s not a certainty the former Union SG striker (he hit 10 league goals in Belgium last term) is in Africa for the tournament, but if he’s not there he’s likely too injured to feature for Roberto De Zerbi. Underappreciated and somewhat anonymous in a mid-table squad chock full of FPL gems, he’s the antithesis of no longer star boy in the making Tariq Lamptey (4% selected, are we collectively learning??) who is also injured (leg, since November) and never performed near where we need him to. BUT IF HE EVER GETS HEALTHY AND MAKES 30 STARTS….

UPDATE: Adingra has had to make a public statement about his ability to make the Ivory Coast squad for AFCON following rumors that Brighton may have requested he not travel to his home, host nation.

Bournemouth - Luton (H), Man City (a), Fulham (H), Liverpool (a)

Dango Ouattara (Forward, Burkina Faso) | Antoine Semenyo (Forward, Ghana)

There’s rarely a good time to travel to Manchester or Liverpool but being without two regular starters is possibly the worst time.

In the final match before the break, both Tottenham and AFCB had players limp off in the first half, and in each case it was a player already slated for AFCON. Burkina Faso forward/defender Dango Ouattara was injured deep into stoppage time of the first half, with his side trailing 1-0 in London. He was replaced by leftback Max Aarons, and we’ll await word. The reverse out of position usage as a left wingback/fullback has heavily damaged his FPL output, but the one-time attacking winger/forward has found regular time including five league starts by increasing his tactical versatility.

More impactful for FPL managers is the departure of Semenyo, himself a second-half substitute on Sunday, who has made 16 appearances scoring three goals. He came on for Luis Sinesterra and it’s possible the 24 year old winger benefits from a few more starts in the next month after making just his second. He scored 11 points against Spurs including a pair of key passes and five successful dribbles. The Colombian is an immediate add easy to find at just 13% rostered.

Burnley - No impact.

Chelsea - Fulham (H), Liverpool (a), Wolves (H), Palace (a)

Nicolas Jackson (Forward, Senegal)

Jackson is not as big a miss today as he would have been earlier in the season but Cole Palmer is on fire (don’t let the celebration fool you) while Christopher Nkunku is back and healthy. The Gameweek 18 return of Nkunku ended in a 2-1 loss to Wolves but he scored in stoppage time to set expectation high. In the eventual 2-1 win over Palace, he started but was a 71’ exit, replaced by Noni Madueke as the Blues chased a winner (which Jackson thought he scored before VAR ruled it out) which the substitute duly delivered from the spot after winning the penalty himself. We might see both Nkunku and Madueke starting in Maurcio Pochettino’s front four together with Raheem Sterling and Palmer. I don’t think there is much chance Jackson outright looses his spot as a result of AFCON, but there is *some* chance.

While he’s away, I’m looking to add and start under-performing Mykhailo Mudryk (85%), who somehow still has managed the 6th most FPL points for Chelsea this season. The Blues will need to eat against Fulham, Wolves and Palace to have any chance at a European spot and I expect them to play aggressive football in all three matches. Madueke (39%) is a streaming starter for the next four matches.

Crystal Palace - Arsenal (a), Sheffield Utd (H), Brighton (a), Chelsea (H)

Jordan Ayew (Forward, Ghana)

The big hit here for FPL managers is Ayew, a Steady Eddie averaging 8 PPM and rarely missing the starting XI. Two goals with five assists and 11 matches with at least one key pass including in four of his last five have established a clear high-value FPL point floor. This side is not short of attacking value and all the names I’d list here are but as a reminder Odsonne Édouard has six goals (15 starts) and is only 70% owned.

Cheick Doucouré (Midfielder, Mali) would likely have been named had he not suffered a season (and possibly career) ending injury when he *snapped* his Achilles tendon earlier this month. Fellow Eagles’ midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp (Midfielder, Ghana) was a notable snub from the Black Stars squad, which will be a relief for Palace manager Roy Hodgson without Doucouré (11 starts) and Ayew (18 starts) able to provide veteran graft against an Arsenal side licking its wounds following back-to-back EPL losses.

Everton - Villa (H), Fulham (a), Tottenham (H), Man City (a)

Idrissa Gueye (Midfielder, Senegal)

Gueye was one of six EPL players named to Senegal’s final AFCON roster, and is the only Toffee to miss for either competition. Sean Dyche has relied on the 34 year old, but there’s no present FPL value (<5 PPM) and anyone earning extra minutes would be hard pressed to find additional fantasy value given the run of fixtures during which time Everton will be fighting to stay out of the relegation fight.

Fulham - Chelsea (a), Everton (H), Burnley (a), Bournemouth (H)

Fode Ballo-Toure (Defender, Senegal) | Calvin Bassey (Defender, Nigeria) | Alex Iwobi (Midfielder, Nigeria)

In Fulham’s excellent finale for 2023 the Cottagers were deserved 2-1 winners over Arsenal only one of the three players didn’t start: Fode Ballo-Toure. The on-loan defender has a handful of substitute appearances but doesn’t factor in FPL decision-making. Bassey (12 starts, 3 subs) has scored fewer than 3 PPM - his absence won’t hurt you and opening additional playing time for Kenny Tete (8 apps) isn’t doing much but at least he’s at 5+ PPM and a decent streaming option as a DEF3/4 in a 12-team league once you get past the Chelsea match.

Losing Alex Iwobi is a bigger deal. The Nigeria international is still just 27 years old, has made 12 starts and been an outstanding real life player. Scoring nearly 8 PPM and over 80% selected means that there will be plenty of managers needing to replace their MID3. On Sunday he was replaced by Andreas Pereira who was likely being rested by Marco Silva in a match most would not have thought the Cottagers would win. Pereira is a carbon-copy of Iwobi for FPL purposes and at 91% selected isn’t a replacement option. 30 year old Jamaica international Bobby De Cordova-Reid started (his 10th), scored the winner (his 4th EPL goal of the season) and was replaced late-on by Harry Wilson. It’s likely between Reid and the 26 year old Wilson to pick up the extra minutes while Iwobi is away. I’d be comfortable streaming either this month but Wilson (2g, 3a) is rated a midfielder while Reid is a forward.

Liverpool - Bournemouth (a), Chelsea (H), Arsenal (a), Burnley (H)

Mohamed Salah (Forward, Egypt)

Yeah, you’re not replacing Mo.

via FBref

Liverpool will be without their best, arguably the EPLs best, inarguably one of the world’s best players for the next four weeks. Slightly compounding the decision-making over who will replace him in the front three is who will replace Wataru Endo in the center three, and compounding that is current knee injury of Alexis Mac Allister. Oh, and if you’re fond of addition, a deep run for Egypt sees Mo slotted to miss: the four EPL matches, Liverpool’s FA Cup clash of titans with Arsenal and both legs of a Carabao Semi-final against Fulham. If they best Arsenal, add an FA Cup 4th Round match, too. It seems quite likely that we’ll see a front three including Luis Diaz - Darwin Núñez - Harvey Elliott at least once during this span and Elliott is just 23% rostered currently. Go add him now; that’s easy money and will hand your side a massive boost.

Elsewhere, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai are all in line for a greater share of the goals until their legs fall off.

Luton - Burnley (a), Brighton (H), Newcastle (a), Sheffield Utd (H)

Issa Kabore (Defender, Burkina Faso)

Kabore’s absence itself doesn’t impact rosters for FPL; he’s under 4 PPM in a deep position where many mangers only use three regular starters. Kabore’s absence may impact the FPL value of Andros Townsend who has been scoring in the 7.5 PPM range. Townsend typically plays on the same wing as Kabore, with the Burkina Faso international more responsible for the defensive duties on the right wing while linking play through his elder teammate. Tahith Chong replaced Kabore at halftime of the loss to Chelsea, which may have been the manager preserving his players chances at representing his nation or may have been a nod to needing a more attacking presence on the wing. The substitution was soon followed by Townsend making way for striker Carlton Morris (62’) as Rob Edwards chased the goals and a point. Chong (2.17 PPM, heavily weighted down by 9/15 appearance coming from the bench. This is the key stretch of the relegation fight for the Hatters with six-pointers against the Clarets and Blades on the docket. I might, might, risk a Chong stream as a MID4 if I was desperate in those two weeks.

Manchester City - None.

Manchester United - Tottenham (H), Wolves (a), West Ham (H), Villa (a)

Sofyan Amrabat (Midfielder, Morocco) | Amad Diallo (Forward, Ivory Coast) | Andre Onana (Goalkeeper, Cameroon)

As with Luton Town, this is United’s do-or-die stretch with three rivals for a top four (lets be honest, a top seven) spot. And they’ll be doing it without their starting GK.

remember to add a funny line about Onana being unable to save United’s season

Sofyan Amrabat hasn’t been that useful as the 21st most valuable player in the United squad. If Amad Diallo didn’t return for the run-in I’m not sure Erik ten Hag would even notice. Losing Onana is a different thing altogether.

Fantasy managers have benefitted from United’s new keeper and he leads all netminders in total FPL points while also slotting in 6th on a PPM basis (Lukasz Fabianski, 3 starts | Daniel Bentley, 2 starts 1 sub are both ahead of him in their limited minutes). He’s fifth in saves (69, nice) per FBref which also has his 73.7% save rate as 3rd amoung qualified GK trailing only Alisson and Alphonse Areola. Onana is one of three players leading the Premier League with six (6) clean sheets and his 1.35 goal conceded per 90’ is fifth. By any measure, he’s been considerably better than United’s online “fans” would have you believe.

Replacing him at Old Trafford will be Altay Bayindir, though I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for Tom Heaton’s 37-year-old bones to get reanimated for at least one match. Bayindir will face the 3rd (Spurs, 111) and 5th (Villa, 102) sides in creating Shots on Target, though Spurs production is likely to be impacted by their own absences. The 25 year old Turkey international had a career 71.7% save percent for Fenerbahçe in the Süper Lig, making 133 league starts in 5+ seasons. The 1.17 goals conceded per 90’ is obviously a bit better than Onana has shown this season. Still less than 5% selected, Bayindir is a fine streaming option but looking to stream Areola (55% selected) for the next two matches: Sheffield Utd (a) and Bournemouth (H), followed by Newcastle’s starter Martin Dúbravka (41%) for GW23 (Luton, H) and GW24 (Forest, a) might deliver more points.

Also, Onana deserve so much more credit than he gets. The player has requested a late arrival for AFCON in order to play in United’s 3rd round away tie to Wigan in the FA Cup, choosing to join Rigobert Song’s squad after they play a warm-up match in Saudi Arabia.

Newcastle - None.

Nottingham Forest - Brentford (a), Arsenal (H), Bournemouth (a), Newcastle (H)

Ola Aina (Defender, Nigeria) | Serge Aurier (Defender, Ivory Coast) | Willy Boly (Defender, Ivory Coast) | Cheikhou Kouyate (Midfielder, Senegal) | Moussa Niakhate (Defender, Senegal) | Ibrahim Sangare (Midfielder, Ivory Coast)

No team is more impacted by the pending tournaments than Nuno Espirito Santo’s resurgent Forest. Fresh off a handy if unexpected 2-1 win over Manchester United, Nuno will see as many as six players depart, including four defenders. We’ll cover the defense first.

After Brazilian centreback Murillo (14 starts, 1,231’) the departing Wily Boly (995’), Ola Aina (989’), Moussa Niakhate (980’) and Serge Aurier (833’) are the most used defenders by the combined Steve Cooper/Nuno led team this season.

Why is this bad? It’s not just the obvious “that’s a lot of players” or even the less obvious “that’s a lot of minutes played.” It’s also that the six players have been selected by just three nations - all of which are favored to go deep in the tournament.

Reds duo Moussa Niakhate and Cheikhou Kouyate have been called up by Senegal, who will be out to defend their title. Meanwhile, Willy Boly, Serge Aurier and Ibrahim Sangare have been picked for hosts Ivory Coast.

The other players selected were by Nigeria (Ola Aina and Emmanuel Dennis, on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir) and the injured Taiwo Awoniyi (10 appearances, 4 goals, 2 assists) may have been called up by the Super Eagles but for groin surgery.

Tricky the Trees may be, but blessed with an abundance of defenders they are not. Joe Worrall, Scott McKenna and Neco Williams have a combined 14 EPL starts this season while McKenna (7 PPM) and Williams (5 PPM) might be worth a streaming play if the schedule didn’t stack up so poorly for FPL points. As it is, they’re 14-team or deeper streaming options as DEF4.

The missing midfield duo is less impactful with Sangaré making 11 starts this year and Kouyaté largely an (unused) substitute. The biggest impact of Sangaré’s absence - together with the four defenders - is what this means for Nuno’s tactics and how that will impact Morgan Gibbs-White, who picked up a significant knock in the United win. Keep a careful eye on the news between today and 20 January when the Trees resume league action, including their 7 January FA Cup tilt vs. Blackpool.

Sheffield United - West Ham (H), Palace (a), Villa (H), Luton (a)

Yasser Larouci (Defender, Algeria) | Anis Ben Slimane (Midfielder, Tunisia)

The two players have just five starts between them with Slimane (3, 321’) narrowly edging Larouci (2, 279’) in the battle of Who Cares? I hope they both get plenty of playing time in Ivory Coast because they’re not getting it for the Blades.

Tottenham - Man Utd (a), Brentford (H), Everton (a), Brighton (H)

Yves Bissouma (Midfielder, Mali) | Pape Matar Sarr (Midfielder, Senegal)

Sarr limped off the pitch after a half-hour on Sunday, his jersey pulled over his face shielding his obvious emotion. The Senegal international’s immediate reaction suggests that his inclusion in Friday’s announced squad is no longer certain. Regardless of the outcome of the immediate injury, Sarr is unlikely to feature for Tottenham for the next month. 63% rostered, Sarr has been good value in 10-team+ leagues, scoring 7.5 PPM. Sarr had scored the opening goal on 9’, his second of the campaign. He was replaced by Oliver Skipp (1% selected).

Sarr’s injury/absence would be easier to absorb if Ange Postecoglou wasn’t also going to be without Son Heung-min (South Korea) and Bissouma. The trio are among the seven outfield players which have most heavily featured this season, with each making at least 16 starts. Given the significant absences, it remains to be seen if each receives a like-for-like replacement as Ange cannot even put the weight of the club on James Maddison, himself dealing with a significant injury.

Bissouma has made 15 starts of his own this campaign, scoring fewer than 5 PPM and won’t be missed for the points he provides.

West Ham - Sheffield Utd (a), Bournemouth (H), Man Utd (a), Arsenal (H)

Nayef Aguerd (Defender, Morocco) | Mohammed Kudus (Midfielder, Ghana)

These are two big misses for the Hammers with Aguerd making 16 starts (1,416’) in the heart of the West Ham defense. Notably the Morocco international has been too ill to play since the 3-0 win over Wolves, missing the 5-1 demolition at the hands of Liverpool in the Cup, but also a pair of 2-0 clean sheet victories over Manchester United and Arsenal. It is certainly possible that this tournament comes at the exact wrong time for Aguerd and he losses his starting spot to a rotation of Kurt Zouma, Konstantinos Mavropanos and 35 year old Angelo Ogbonna. That would certainly be welcome news for FPL managers who have seen Zouma (4.47) and Mavropanos (6.75) outscore the incumbent CB handily.

Kudus is arguably the third biggest name to depart on international duty. Since arriving in London from Ajax he has massively outperformed (6 goals from 1.9 xG), handing FPL managers big points along the way. His 10.5 PPM trail only Jarrod Bowen (13) and James Ward-Prowse (12), and his 78’ goal salted away three points against United.

Lucas Paquetá and Ward-Prowse will see either Said Benrahma (42% selected) or Pablo Fornals (2% selected) elevated back to the starting XI and my money is - as you’d guess - on Benrahma who is without a goal and has just one assist in 548’. I doubt the manager drops Kudus for either of those names upon his healthy return, but adding Benrahma to the bench now is a safe play with some upside.

Maxwel Cornet was not picked by the hosts and has been a non-entity for David Moyes. But remember him? What the fuck ever happened to him. Time to add another L to his name.

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - Brighton (a), Man Utd (H), Chelsea (a), Brentford (H)

Rayan Ait-Nouri (Defender, Algeria) | Boubacar Traoré (Midfielder, Mali)

It’s fortunate for Wolves that they are not dealing with many injuries at the moment, or losing starting left wingback Rayan Ait-Nouri and striker Hwang Hee-chan (discussed below) would be even harder to replace. The Alergia international is already in his fourth season at Molineux and been on FPL managers radars since day one having made 21 appearances in his debut, age 19 season. This year he’s yet to score or assist a league goal, and that has certainly contributed to his sub-4 PPM returns. We’re not using him for much, but Gary O’Neil does and replacing him may be a bit of a boon for 21 year old Hugo Bueno. Not currently enough points in it to be troubling us, but a name to watch if you’re desperate.

Another young gun in this side will depart when Boubacar Traoré ships off to represent Mali, with 12 appearances but only three starts this season. Hoping they both come back healthy and can build on impressive starts to their careers.

The 2023 Asian Cup

Running in parallel with the Africa Cup of Nations is the Asian Cup which will play from Friday Jan 12 through 10 February and includes Iran, Japan and South Korea. That means several EPL sides will be missing further starters or squad players.

Arsenal - Takehiro Tomiyasu (Defender, Japan) has made 12 EPL appearances as of writing with five of those coming as starts. His one goal and one assist have made him a valuable streaming defender for FPL managers but hasn’t appeared since December 2nd and was once again named a substitute in the Gunners’ final match before the break.

Brentford - Saman Ghoddos (Midfielder, Iran) and Kim Ji-soo (Defender, South Korea) will likely both feature for their home nations with the later immaterial for FPL. Ghoddos Asian Cup duties does create an additional selection headache for Thomas with the 30 year old making seven starts on the left side of a five man midfield (or defense, depending on how pressing the Bees are playing).

Brighton - The Seagulls’ manager Roberto De Zerbi and I are both left a bit puzzled by Kaoru Mitoma’s (Midfielder, Japan) inclusion in Japan’s final squad for the tournament. Samurai Blue are looking to improve on their loss in the final of the last edition and Hajime Moriyasu's inclusion of Mitoma suggests the Asian giants are expecting to be playing in the Final once more. The puzzlement over the inclusion is that the ankle injury which he suffered on 21 December vs Crystal Palace and which could keep him sidelined through the end of January.

"I'm really surprised because my medical staff told me Mitoma needs four, six weeks for his injury. For me, it's difficult to think he can play in the Asian Cup. But I am a fan of Mitoma, of all my players, so if they can play for their national team I am very happy and very proud." - Brighton’s De Zerbi

If Mitoma is indeed able to play for Japan, that is a massive boost with the 26 year old already scoring three goals and adding five assists in 1,321’ this season. He was replaced by Jakob Moder when he suffered the injury, while De Zerbi made several changes to the starting XI against Tottenham, a lively 4-2 win that wasn’t that close for most of the match. The pair of departing starters (Simon Adingra) opens additional minutes for Danny Welbeck (5.18 PPM, 34% selected), James Milner (4.62, 4%) and 19 year old Argentine Facundo Buonanotte (2.95, 14%).

Liverpool - Wataru Endo (Midfielder, Japan). The Reds may only have two players missing but adding the absence of Wataru Endo to that of Salah will increase the pressure on Jurgen Klopp to manage the front six efficiently with no fat left to trim. Endo, the former Stuttgart stalwart, has been a regular contributor with 14 EPL appearances including a number of starts. His FPL value is negligible but given the current injury issues around Mac Allister, further absences could force Dominik Szoboszlai into the least favorable central midfielder role where FPL value goes to die.

Tottenham - Son Heung-min (Forward, South Korea) is the second biggest miss between the two tournaments with only Mo Salah’s absence a heavier burden for FPL managers to bear. As discussed above, Spurs have significant injury and international absences to deal with and the tactics could well get a wholesale makeover for the next month as Agneball is reinvented to keep Tottenham within spitting distance of the top four. Brennan Johnson (90%) and Richarlison (96%) will be expected to fill in the goals and both become set and forget forwards for the next four weeks and Johnson is worth adding (I doubt Richarlison is available in any live league).

Wolfs - Hwang Hee-chan (Midfielder, South Korea) is better known to FPL managers as Hwang Hee-chan, Forward, Slayer of City, Scorer of Goals. His 10 goals and three assists lead the club in goals and goals+assists, while he’s appeared in all 20 EPL fixtures, starting 17. One of the best stories of the season, Hwang has spread his 13 goals + assists across 12 matches, handing his FPL managers a stead stream of 10+ point performances, securing the 2nd most points and second higher PPM on the club.

He’s another player you’re not going to find a plug and play a replacement and Wolves will likely use a few players to replace his production in true Moneyball fashion. There is a chance that a healthy Pedro Neto could simply slot into the spot, but he has yet to start following a return from injury. Assuming he again misses a start when Wolves travel to Brentford 5 January for the FA Cup, Neto could find fitness between now and the next match on 22 January at Brighton. The FA Cup match will also provide some insight into how Wolverhampton boss Gary O’Neil intends to deal with the international absences knowing he can field an otherwise full-strength squad ahead of a 17 day break.

Justin Hubner (Defender, Indonesia) is a real human footballer and not a regen. Not knocking the 20 year old was born in Netherlands but has Indonesian ancestry and is eligible to be nationalized. No idea if he makes it in time for Asian Cup, but it’s a fun story to end this massively overlong article with!