Quick GW22 Physio Room Introduction
Injuries, suspensions, and international duty can wreck even the best-laid FPL plans. Here’s your Gameweek 22 Physio Room update focusing on the most relevant flagged, higher-ownership names from the data — plus practical replacement ideas based on role, output, and underlying numbers (xG/xA/ICT).
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🚑 GW22 Injury & Availability Report (High-Ownership Flags)
Hugo Ekitiké (FWD, £8.9m) — 26.5% selected — 75% chance of playing
•Status: Doubtful (hamstring) — "75% chance of playing"
•Why it matters: He’s a major ownership swing player at 26.5%.
•Season output: 84 pts | 8G/2A | 1128 mins
•Underlying threat: Threat 431.0, xG 5.78
FPL take (GW22):
•If you have a strong bench, Ekitiké is a classic hold-and-start-if-fit.
•If your bench is thin or you can’t absorb a cameo, consider moving him on for a nailed forward.
Replacement ideas (same slot):
•Safe minutes forward: Prioritise a striker who reliably starts to protect you from a 1-point appearance.
•Profile match: Look for a forward with strong Threat and a credible xG footprint (Ekitiké’s is 5.78).
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Mohamed Salah (MID, £14.0m) — 14.3% selected — OUT (AFCON from GW17)
•Status: Not available — AFCON duty from GW17 onwards, unknown return
•Season output: 64 pts | 4G/3A | 1183 mins
•Chance creation remains elite: Creativity 454.7 (huge)
•All-round involvement: ICT 114.6, Threat 408.0
FPL take (GW22):
•This is a sell for most managers given the unknown return date.
•If you kept him for too long, don’t compound it — free up funds and restructure.
Replacement ideas (premium-to-premium or restructure):
•Direct like-for-like: A premium midfielder with both Threat and Creativity (Salah brings both: Threat 408.0 / Creativity 454.7).
•Restructure play: Use the £14.0m to upgrade two positions, especially if you also need to cover other flags.
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Bryan Mbeumo (MID, £8.1m) — 8.9% selected — OUT (AFCON from GW17)
•Status: Not available — AFCON duty from GW17 onwards, unknown return
•Season output: 74 pts | 6G/1A | 1405 mins
•Elite underlying profile:
•Threat 527.0 (monster)
•Creativity 472.6
•ICT 135.9
•xG 5.35, xA 3.41
FPL take (GW22):
•He’s the definition of a forced transfer if you still own him.
•The upside: his price point is perfect for a direct sideways move without ripping your squad apart.
Replacement ideas (mid-price attacker slot):
•Prioritise “dual-threat” mids — Mbeumo’s value was combining xG (5.35) and xA (3.41).
•If you’re chasing upside, target a midfielder with a similarly high Threat number.
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Mohammed Kudus (MID, £6.4m) — 12.1% selected — OUT until 11 Apr
•Status: Injured (thigh) — Expected back 11 Apr
•Season output: 75 pts | 2G/6A | 1535 mins
•Strong creator: Creativity 413.8, xA 2.41
FPL take (GW22):
•With a return date far away, this is a clear sell.
•His appeal was value + creation; replace him with a mid who can contribute assists consistently.
Replacement ideas (budget-to-mid price):
•Assist-first mids: Kudus profiles as a creator (6 assists, xA 2.41). Replace the *role*, not just the price.
•If you need to fund a premium move elsewhere, this is the slot to find savings.
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🟥 Defensive Flags to Note (If You Own Them)
These aren’t the highest ownership in the list, but they still matter if they’re in your squad.
Michael Keane (DEF, £4.8m) — 6.6% selected — Suspended until 31 Jan
•Status: Suspended
•Output: 96 pts | 3 goals | Value 20.0 (huge)
Replacement approach:
•If you relied on him as a starter, prioritise a defender with secure minutes and some goal threat.
Riccardo Calafiori (DEF, £5.6m) — 6.8% selected — Muscle injury (unknown return)
•Status: Injured, unknown return
•Output: 77 pts | 9 clean sheets | Value 13.8
Replacement approach:
•With no clear return date, treat as a sell unless he’s a luxury bench piece.
Rúben Dias (DEF, £5.7m) — 5.3% selected — Hamstring, back 11 Feb
•Status: Injured — Expected back 11 Feb
•Output: 95 pts | 10 clean sheets | Form 4.7
Replacement approach:
•If you can bench him, a short-term hold can work. If you need points now, move to an immediately available defender.
Joško Gvardiol (DEF, £6.0m) — 6.1% selected — Leg injury (unknown return)
•Status: Injured, unknown return
•Output: 77 pts | 2G/2A | Form 4.0
Replacement approach:
•Unknown timelines usually mean sell, especially at £6.0m where your money can work harder.
Daniel Muñoz Mejía (DEF, £5.8m) — 6.2% selected — Knee, back 17 Jan
•Status: Injured — Expected back 17 Jan
•Output: 89 pts | 3G/3A
Replacement approach:
•Likely the easiest defensive hold if you can bench for one more week.
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GW22 Transfer Priorities (Simple Order)
1. Sell AFCON absences: Salah, Mbeumo (both unavailable, unknown return).
2. Sell long-term injury: Kudus (out until 11 Apr).
3. Assess short-term doubts: Ekitiké (75%) — hold if you have bench cover.
4. Fix defensive dead spots: Keane (suspension) / unknown return-date defenders depending on your bench depth.
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Conclusion: Win GW22 by Protecting Minutes
Gameweek 22 is about eliminating guaranteed zeros (AFCON/long-term injuries) and avoiding 1-point cameos where possible. Move off Salah, Mbeumo, and Kudus with confidence, then make a call on Ekitiké based on bench strength. The best replacement isn’t always the most exciting name — it’s the one most likely to deliver secure minutes + strong Threat/Creativity in the role you’re replacing.