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Chelsea FC forward Christopher Nkunku during pre-season.

An amazing Premier League XI yet to play a single minute in 2023-24 ft. Chelsea & Man Utd stars…

Ben Stewart •

We are already eight games into the 2023-24 Premier League season and stars from Manchester United, Tottenham are Chelsea are among those yet to kick a ball in this campaign.

Some players are still recovering from injuries and so haven’t had the chance to make an impact while others have been overlooked by their managers in the opening months of the season.

We’ve compiled an amazing Premier League XI who are yet to play a single minute of league football in 2023-24 so far.

GK: Dean Henderson

The 26-year-old will be keen to make an impression at Selhurst Park following his departure from Old Trafford this summer. Henderson hasn’t played for England since 2020 and he will surely be desperate to get back into Gareth Southgate’s plans.

He was handed a start by Roy Hodgson in the EFL Cup against Man Utd, although he only lasted 19 minutes before he was forced off with a muscle injury. As of writing, he is yet to feature in the Premier League this season.

RB: Wesley Fofana

We know that Fofana predominantly plays as a centre-half, but for the sake of this XI, we are sticking him on the right-hand side. Since his £70million move from Leicester to Chelsea last summer the French international has had a stinking injury record.

The 22-year-old has already missed 36 games through injury since signing for Chelsea and he is currently nursing an ACL injury which is predicted to keep him out for the majority of the 2023-24 campaign. Fingers crossed he’s able to come back stronger than ever.

CB: Eric Dier

Tottenham tried their best to offload Dier this summer, but a move didn’t materialise in the end. The England international is clearly not part of Ange Postecoglou’s plans and a departure in 2024 seems more than likely.

According to reports from Italy, Jose Mourinho is keen on a reunion with Dier as Roma have been tipped to land his signature when the transfer window opens. Given his contract in north London expires at the end of the season, the Italian club could land a cut-price deal in January.

CB: Benoit Badiashile

Chelsea haven’t had it easy over the last couple of years when it comes to injuries. The French defender missed a chunk of last season with a hamstring problem and he is yet to feature under Mauricio Pochettino so far.

Badiashile did make a good impression during his 11 league appearances last season, but injuries have seriously halted his progression at Stamford Bridge since signing for the club in January.

LB: Tyrell Malacia

Erik ten Hag was forced to turn to the loan market as United desperately scrambled for cover at left-back upon both Malacia and Shaw being injured. In the end, the Red Devils snapped up Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilon to cover the position.

Malacia is yet to feature this season as he continues to recover from injury. The 24-year-old had a steady first season in English football last time around and he will no doubt be desperate to get back onto the pitch.

“Malacia’s will take some time, the same as Amad and Kobbie, they are really impact injuries,” Ten Hag told reporters in August when discussing Malacia’s absence.

RM: Michael Olise

We sure have missed Olise this season. The French winger sustained a hamstring injury over the summer while on international duty and he is yet to kick a ball for Crystal Palace during this campaign.

Last season the 21-year-old produced 11 assists and was one of the brightest emerging talents in the league. Olise still has a bright future ahead of him, but he will be keen to get back onto the pitch sooner rather than later.

CM: Rodrigo Bentancur

Tottenham have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season and they still have Bentancur to add into the mix. The 26-year-old was one of Tottenham’s best-performing players last season, but he has been out since February with an ACL injury.

Reports have suggested that the Uruguayan midfielder could be back in action around November which will come as a huge boost to Ange Postecoglou.

“It’s massive news,” Gabby Agbonlahor told Football Insider when asked about Bentancur’s return. “If anything it’s just a different option for Postecoglou. But I was watching this guy last season and thinking: ‘This guy has got it all’.

“He can play anywhere in the midfield. He can play deep, he can go further forward. Some of the runs he was making in behind were great – and he’s quick as well.”

CM: Thiago Alcantara

Since joining Liverpool in 2020, the Spanish midfielder has missed 82 matches through injury. A hip injury has kept him sidelined for the season so far and Juergen Klopp revealed the midfielder has had a couple of setbacks in his recovery.

“He had now two setbacks in the rehab, not massive but enough to take him off the pitch again,” Klopp told reporters. “Obviously not the same injury, not at all, but a bit similar.”

LM: Emi Buendia

Aston Villa were hit with a hammer blow on the eve of the Premier League season as Buendia sustained a significant knee ligament injury which is set to keep him sidelined for the majority of the season.

The creative midfielder produced seven goal contributions last season and will be missed at Villa Park. Thankfully, new signing Moussa Diaby has stepped up in his absence.

ST: Christopher Nkunku

The French forward looked razor-sharp in pre-season, until he sustained a nasty-looking knee injury. Nkunku is yet to make his Premier League debut for Chelsea although he could return from injury before the end of the year.

Reports have claimed that the 25-year-old could return around December, although Chelsea won’t want to rush him back into action too soon.

ST: Ivan Toney

The Brentford forward is currently serving a footballing suspension after being found guilty of breaching the FA’s gambling rules. Toney’s ban is set to be lifted in January and Brentford sure have missed the 27-year-old so far.

Only Everton have missed more big chances than Brentford in the Premier League this season. Thomas Frank will be desperate to get his star striker back on the pitch, although plenty of top clubs are considering swooping in for him in January.

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