The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Sunday, 21st December, and several Premier League clubs are bracing for the loss of key players.
Under AFCON regulations, clubs must release selected players by Monday, 8th December, a deadline that has already caused concern across the league.
Transfer News Blitz writer Taylor Stephenson breaks down which clubs will be hit the hardest – and the numbers paint a challenging picture for some.
League table according to combined minutes missed by players attending AFCON:
Data is from premierleague.com and correct as of 28/11
Who is the most affected?
The four clubs facing the biggest disruption are Sunderland, Wolves, Manchester United and Fulham, with Sunderland emerging as the clear frontrunners.
Manager Régis Le Bris could be without seven first-team players, a significant blow during a demanding stretch of fixtures.
Supporters on Wearside will be hoping AFCON doesn’t derail what has been an impressive start to life back in the Premier League.
However, the Black Cats did receive welcome news this week – reports suggest they will be allowed to keep their AFCON-bound stars until after their crucial Tyne–Wear derby against Newcastle on 14 December.
Liverpool lose one… But it’s a big one
Liverpool, already struggling for form, will lose just one player as well, but that player is Mohamed Salah.
Although Salah hasn’t hit the levels we are used to seeing from him this season, up until Arne Slot dropped him against West Ham, Salah had played virtually every minute for Liverpool this season.
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Trouble for those at the bottom?
Relegation-threatened Burnley and West Ham will lose five players combined, with those departures accounting for around 1,500 minutes of playing time for the two clubs.
Although it might not be as big of a hit as others in the league, when you’re fighting at the bottom, it’s vital to have everything at your disposal to give you the best chance of survival.
Fans of both teams will certainly be hoping this isn’t the case for their team, and they can suffer the blow of the loss and pick up some vital and much-needed points.
The flip side
In a twist of fortune, Newcastle United will escape the worst of AFCON’s disruption. They were initially set to lose Yoane Wissa, the £55 million summer signing, yet to make his debut.
But the DR Congo forward was left out of his national team’s squad due to fitness concerns, meaning Newcastle remain unaffected.
The bottom of the table is rounded out by Arsenal, Chelsea, and newly promoted Leeds United as the only other Premier League clubs completely unaffected by the tournament.
What it means
Sunderland’s strong start has raised expectations, but losing the spine of the team may test their depth. Fortunately, their squad looks better equipped than most thought to absorb the short-term losses.
For clubs at the bottom, the picture is more complicated. Wolves will lose several major contributors – but with performances already faltering, the tournament may offer new manager Rob Edwards an opportunity to reset.
Let’s be honest, it can’t get much worse… can it? (insert Mick McCarthy meme here)
Leeds will be happy to see fellow relegation scrappers Burnley and West Ham are to miss out, but they need to look in the mirror and address their own issues before worrying about anyone else.
It looks certain that Wolves are going to be in the Championship next season, and AFCON could very well play a decisive role in deciding who joins them.
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