FPL Gameweek 5 Injury News: João Pedro, Elanga and Who’s Fit

João Pedro is a major doubt for Chelsea’s trip to Brentford, while Anthony Elanga’s injury looks more serious. Gabriel’s half-time substitution was planned, Cody Gakpo has completed 90 minutes, and Pedro Porro is expected back for Tottenham.

A week that looked fairly straightforward suddenly has a few awkward transfer decisions. The trick is knowing which problems need fixing now — and which ones you can leave alone.

The Gameweek 5 deadline is Friday 18 September at 18:30 BST, or 23:00 IST. Here’s the latest injury news, the return dates worth paying attention to and our take on what to do with the players in your FPL squad.

This early-Thursday update reflects information available at 07:55 IST on 17 September. Chelsea’s pre-Brentford press conference and Thursday’s cup and European matches were still to come.

What is the FPL Gameweek 5 injury picture?

Quick answer: Elanga is the priority sale because his reported absence is measured in weeks. Wait for Chelsea’s Thursday update before buying or selling João Pedro. Gabriel and Gakpo do not need injury-driven sales, while Porro is expected to be available.

Is João Pedro playing against Brentford?

João Pedro is a major doubt for Gameweek 5. Chelsea have yet to provide a confirmed return date following his withdrawal from Brazil’s squad.

The worrying part is the change since the weekend. He finished the Hull match and scored, so this initially looked like something he had shaken off. Brazilian reporting now describes persistent knee pain after an awkward landing, followed by examinations. The Brazil withdrawal on Wednesday makes him a much less comfortable selection for Friday.

That changes our earlier Gameweek 5 preview, where João Pedro was among the attacking picks. Put that transfer on hold.

Xabi Alonso is due to speak on Thursday 17 September at 13:30 BST — 18:00 IST. That is the next important update for owners.

Should you sell João Pedro?

Start by looking at your bench. Who actually comes into your team if he misses Brentford?

A dependable substitute gives you room to wait. A bench full of injured players and non-starters doesn’t. There is also an unusually helpful gap in the calendar: Gameweek 6 begins on 10 October. A short absence could therefore cost one league appearance rather than several.

Our approach is to wait for Alonso, then decide. A confirmed short lay-off with good bench cover favours keeping him. A longer absence, or a squad already struggling to field eleven, makes a sale easier to justify.

For replacements, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the cheaper route to assess; Alexander Isak is the upgrade to assess. Both feature in our GW5 preview. Choose someone who fits your team beyond Friday, rather than spending another transfer reversing the move next month.

And leave the captaincy elsewhere while João Pedro’s availability is unresolved. You can be patient with a transfer without doubling down on the risk.

Anthony Elanga injury: how long could he be out?

Elanga is out of the GW5 plans, with a reported hamstring problem that could keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks.

RotoWire’s Wednesday update, citing Newcastle reporter Craig Hope, gives that potential recovery window. Further assessment is still needed. Newcastle have not set a firm return date.

That fits the concern Matthias Jaissle had already expressed after Elanga missed the Leeds match. His initial assessment was that the injury did not look good.

This is the harder one to carry. Even with the international break, the reported timeline threatens multiple gameweeks. Elanga would be ahead of João Pedro in our replacement queue for a manager who owns both and has just one free transfer.

There is a temptation to move straight to another Newcastle winger. We would resist doing that solely because a place has opened up. An absent teammate can create an opportunity without making the replacement a reliable starter.

Gakpo is worth assessing if you can afford to move up in midfield: his latest outing answers the fitness question. Your remaining budget and Liverpool’s team selection still need to make sense, though. An injury transfer shouldn’t leave you immediately worrying about your new player’s minutes.

Arsenal injury news: Gabriel and Timber are different cases from White

Why was Gabriel substituted at half-time?

Gabriel’s withdrawal against Ipswich was planned. “Yeah, that was planned,” Arteta confirmed in his post-match update.

A relief, then. Keep him.

Is Jurrien Timber injured again?

Arteta said Timber was fine. Arsenal were managing his workload after 53 minutes against Sunderland following five months out.

We would hold with cover rather than assume he is ready for 90 minutes.

What about Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera?

White’s groin concern and Mosquera’s continued absence still need a fresh verdict before Brighton. Neither has a confirmed return date. Timber’s reassuring news does not apply to everyone.

Liverpool injury news: Gakpo is back, Ekitike is not close

Cody Gakpo played the full match and scored in Liverpool’s 3–1 cup win over Tottenham on Tuesday. That is considerably more useful than another photograph of him jogging at training.

Liverpool’s match report also records Joe Gomez’s first appearance of the season following injury. Bradley Barcola came off the bench.

For Gakpo owners, the injury-driven sale can come off the to-do list. For buyers, the next question is his place in the league team. A successful cup return gives him a chance to press his case; it does not settle Iraola’s weekend selection.

Ekitike is a very different situation. He is recovering from an Achilles rupture, and Liverpool’s latest update puts January 2027 in the frame as a possible return to action. His inclusion in the Champions League squad does not mean he is nearly ready.

Conor Bradley also remains some way from team training. Federico Chiesa’s target is a return to group training later in September. Neither should be treated as a fresh GW5 option.

Tottenham injury news: should you keep Pedro Porro?

Yes — on the latest news, Porro is a hold. Roberto De Zerbi said after the Liverpool cup tie that he would be available against Aston Villa on Saturday, following a minor muscular problem.

That positive update removes much of the urgency to sell. We would still have cover rather than assuming an immediate 90 minutes.

His attacking role is also worth keeping in view. Our September set-piece update looks at the duties that can make a defender valuable even when the clean-sheet fixture is less appealing.

Shaw, Sarr and Doku: the other fitness calls to watch

Luke Shaw: still needs the all-clear

Shaw remains a doubt for Manchester United’s trip to Fulham. Carrick’s latest fitness assessment described a short-term problem measured in days, but that is not a confirmed weekend return.

We would avoid buying him before the final update. Owners with a usable substitute have less reason to rush. Carlos Baleba, meanwhile, is being aimed towards the period after the internationals rather than GW5.

Crystal Palace: Sarr closer, Henderson and Mateta still out

Sarr and Eddie Nketiah returned to training this week. Pierre Sage said both could be involved against Lech Poznań on Thursday.

For Sarr, that makes the European game especially useful. Does he start? How long does he play? How does he come through it? Those answers matter before buying him for Leeds away.

Dean Henderson and Mateta are still missing. A return after the international break is the hope, rather than this weekend.

Henderson owners should check their second goalkeeper before spending a transfer. A playing reserve could cover the gap; a reserve who never appears cannot. Our goalkeeper review compares the alternatives.

Manchester City: Doku is close, but Foden is suspended

Maresca says Doku is close to returning from his calf injury. That is encouraging, although we would want to see his involvement against Norwich on Thursday before considering a move.

Foden’s absence is a separate issue: he is suspended for GW5 and GW6. Doku getting closer to fitness does not, by itself, guarantee that he takes Foden’s place or starts against Sunderland.

Premier League suspensions for Gameweek 5

The Premier League’s suspension list has four players unavailable for this round:

Keep these separate from fitness doubts. A positive training update won’t change a suspension.

What should you do before the GW5 deadline?

The first job is to count your likely starters. A squad with one doubt and a healthy bench can afford patience. A squad carrying two injured attackers and an unavailable goalkeeper may need to act even without perfect information.

Our priority would be a longer-term problem such as Elanga, followed by any absence that leaves you unable to field a full side. Wait for Chelsea’s update before making João Pedro the automatic sacrifice. Leave Gabriel alone, and don’t sell Porro purely because he missed the last match.

Thursday’s team news still matters: Alonso’s press conference, Sarr’s possible return and City’s cup selection can all change a decision before Friday evening.

Use the full Gameweek 5 preview for the fixture and captaincy picture. Then make the smallest set of changes that leaves you with a team you actually like.

One sensible transfer is enough when it fixes the problem. There’s no prize for making the week more complicated.