The Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup get underway this month with several Premier League players leaving their clubs mid-season to take part in the tournaments.
Here are all the players who will not be available while their nations take part in both tournaments, and how much impact it might have on those teams…
Arsenal
Embed from Getty ImagesMohamed Elneny (Egypt)
Takehiro Tomiyasu (Japan)
Arsenal have been dealt a blow with Takehiro Tomiyasu set to link up with Japan in the Asian Cup in Qatar having only just returned from injury. The 25-year-old provides Mikel Arteta with a valuable and versatile defensive option and his absence will be felt even more with Jurrien Timber still out with his long-term injury. Mohamed Elneny has played a bit part this season so his spell away from north London will not be a massive problem.
Aston Villa
Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)
Only losing Betrand Traore, who has played just twice in the Premier League for Villa this season, could be beneficial for Villa compared with other top-four rivals like Spurs who are losing more key players.
Bournemouth
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)
Antoine Semenyo (Ghana)
Brentford
Yoane Wissa (Congo)
Ji-Soo Kim (South Korea)
Saman Ghoddos (Iran)
Frank Onyeka (Nigeria)
These international tournaments come at a difficult time for Brentford given their injury crisis this season, which has been a big contributing factor to their recent terrible run.
Brighton
Embed from Getty ImagesSimon Adingra (Ivory Coast)
Kaoru Mitoma (Japan)
It remains to be seen whether Kaoru Mitoma plays any part in the Asian Cup, but he has been called up for the Japan squad despite his injury. Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi admits he was surprised by the call-up given his ankle problem is expected to keep him out for at least another month. Simon Adingra has impressed this season so losing him to the Ivory Coast is a frustration for de Zerbi.
Burnley
None
Chelsea
Embed from Getty ImagesNicolas Jackson (Senegal)
Nicolas Jackson is the only Blues player who will be leaving the club for his national team this month. He has endured an up and down start to life at the club but has scored seven Premier League goals this season and will be a miss for Mauricio Pochettino, who has limited options in the striker position as it is. Armando Broja will look to seize his chance in the first team, no doubt, but having one player away is a boost for Chelsea’s hopes of improving in the second half of the season.
Crystal Palace
Jordan Ayew (Ghana)
Everton
Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal)
Fulham
Fode-Ballo Toure (Senegal)
Calvin Bassey (Nigeria)
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
Liverpool
Embed from Getty ImagesWataru Endo (Japan)
Mo Salah (Egypt)
Mo Salah continues to prove himself as one of the best players in the world and losing his goals for at least a couple of weeks could prove detrimental to Liverpool’s title hopes. Jurgen Klopp will be desperately hoping his other attacking options can step up in their talisman’s absence, while Wataru Endo has impressed of late with his tenacity in midfield and his departure for the Japan squad is another setback.
Luton
Issa Kabore (Burkina Faso)
Manchester City
None
It has been a poor first half of the season by Manchester City’s incredible standards but with Kevin de Buryne and Erling Haaland coming back and no players away for international duty, this next month could prove crucial if they are to defend their Premier League title.
Manchester United
Embed from Getty ImagesAndre Onana (Cameroon)
Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
First-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana has been selected for the Cameroon squad but United are keen to delay his departure for as long as possible. It looks as though he could be involved for the FA Cup tie against Wigan as well as the Premier League clash with Tottenham on January 14, despite Cameroon’s AFCON campaign getting underway just a day later, when he will then link up with the squad. Losing Sofyan Amrabat given the midfield is already light because of injuries is also a big loss for Erik ten Hag.
Newcastle United
None
Nottingham Forest
Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast)
Willy Boly (Ivory Coast)
Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast)
Cheikou Kouyate (Senegal)
Moussa Niakhate (Senegal)
Ola Aina (Nigeria)
Nottingham Forest are the most impacted by the international tournaments in terms of numbers with six players going away for AFCON. Forest have started well under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo and he will hope this does not disrupt that and impact his side’s survival hopes too much.
Sheffield United
Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia)
Yasser Larouci (Algeria)
Tottenham Hotspur
Embed from Getty ImagesPape Sarr (Senegal)
Heung-Min Son (South Korea)
Yves Bissouma (Mali)
Ange Postecoglou has had a nightmare with injuries this season and is still enduring a difficult spell with players out, so losing his starting midfield pair and top scorer Heung-Min Son to AFCON and the Asian Cup respectively is far from ideal. Spurs will no doubt have to be active in January to address their squad shortcomings and while they have managed well without key players this season, it will be a huge task to continue to do so.
West Ham United
Nayef Aguerd (Morocco)
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Hee-Chan Hwang (South Korea)
Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria)
Boubacar Traore (Mali)
