The Premier League is reaching its climax… but a number of clubs are without key man for the run-in
SunSport looks at the players who will be watching the rest of the campaign from the sidelines
ARSENAL were dealt yet another blow with the news that Santi Cazorla will not feature again for the Gunners this season.
The Spanish playmaker, 28, injured his ankle way back in October of last year against Ludogorets and has not played since - despite originally only being ruled out for a couple of weeks.
Injuries seem to be hitting thick and fast now, with clubs desperate to keep their stars fit for the run-in after a long season.
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Yet title front-runners Chelsea will be the happiest of the bunch - with none of their stars currently set for a lengthy lay-off.
With the Premier League reaching its conclusion and with so much still to be decided at both the top and bottom, SunSport looks at the key men who will be watching the remainder of the campaign from the sidelines.
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Manchester City - Ilkay Gundogan
THE TALENTED German had City fans licking their lips as he bagged a brace in the stunning Champions League win over Barcelona in October.
But as is football, barely a week later he trudged off the field against Watford with knee ligament damage and hasn’t played since.
Gundogan will hope to be fit for the kick-off to 2017/18 - whilst team-mate Gabriel Jesus may yet perform a medical miracle and be available before the end of May.
Liverpool - Danny Ings
AFTER a seven month lay-off last season due to injury, this was the season that Ings was set to explode back into the Anfield spotlight.
But the unfortunate forward - who has started just SIX times for Kop in two years - was ruled out for the season in November with a knee injury.
Following his surgery, first-team chances next season looks slim as Jurgen Klopp eyes a summer raid for a new striker.
Spurs - Erik Lamela
IT’S a cruel twist of fate that after finally finding consistency at the Lane, Lamela was struck down with a hip injury during training in October.
And with rumours abound on his future at the club, he might never pull on a Spurs shirt again.
With Mauricio Pochettino favouring 3-4-2-1 these days, the Argentinian is very much a square peg in a round hole.
Everton - Ramiro Funes Mori
ALONG with Seamus Coleman, the Toffees are now very short at the back after the Argentinian suffered a torn knee muscle whilst on international duty.
With Everton racing for the top six and even a Champions League place, the knocks couldn’t have come at a worse time for Ronald Koeman.
It was a disastrous international break for the Dutchman, who saw Coleman return with a horrendous broken leg and James McCarthy a hamstring issue.
A Goodison fan-favourite, no-nonsense centre-back Funes Mori's diagnosis suggests he will be out until the summer at the very least.
Sunderland - Duncan Watmore
WITH the Black Cats rooted to the bottom of the table, they could really do with the energy that the former Hibs man brought to their game last season.
But Watmore was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained against Leicester shortly before Christmas.
Unable to be David Moyes’ hero on the pitch, he’s been saving lives of holidaymakers in Barbados instead.
Everton - Seamus Coleman
AS FAR as horror challenges, Neil Taylor’s NSFW effort on Coleman during Wales v Ireland takes some beating.
The marauding full-back, so often popping up at both ends of the pitch, is set for a long lay-off after the sickening fracture.
Taylor is facing a long ban from FIFA after the tackle required surgery, with Coleman's leg broken in two places.
Hull City - Ryan Mason
EVERYONE who was watching will remember the sickening injury Mason received against Chelsea.
The former Spurs man fractured his skull in a clash of heads with Gary Cahill but is hopeful of returning to action for the beginning of next season.
That is some feat considering there were fears he may never play again.
Sadly it might be in the Championship if the Tigers can’t turn around their stuttering form, with only one win in their last five.
Swansea - Angel Rangel
WITH the Swans flying again under Paul Clement, it’s looking like he may be able to achieve what looked impossible and keep them up.
But fantastically named Spaniard Rangel has 'done a Rooney' and fractured his metatarsal - just a the wrong time.
Gylfi Sigurdsson will be fit first of those on the the current injury list, but the experienced full-back will not feature again this season.
Swansea could use all of the nous he’s acquired in the 300-plus games he’s played for the club and will be hoping Jordi Amat can step up in his absence.
Everton - Yannick Bolasie
AFTER moving for £25million over the summer, Bolasie will be keen to forget his first season on Merseyside.
He managed to provide four assists in the thirteen Premier League games he was fit for and appeared to be settling in well.
But the former Palace flier limped off against Manchester United in December and was later found to have torn his cruciate knee ligament - ruling him out of a year.
Southampton - Virgil van Dijk
DESPITE posting evidence to his social media of a speedy recovery from ankle ligament damage, the Saints defensive enforcer looks to be out until after May.
The Dutchman has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield in the summer and Southampton have badly missed him during recent weeks.
Puel’s side have conceded eight in their last three games and will be keen to find a cure against Bournemouth.
Crystal Palace - Connor Wickham
AFTER renewed optimism around Selhurst Park and a glut of new signings, it’s safe to say this season has been a bit of a disaster for the Eagles.
But after three wins in their last three without conceding, their survival charge is in full swing.
They’re not yet safe though and could use the goals of Wickham, who definitely won’t return until the start of the new campaign because of an ACL knock.
With eight players out, Selhurst has the busiest treatment room in the Premier League.
Leicester City - Molla Wague
WITH a lack of cover at the back, Wague will have been delighted to feature in the FA Cup against Millwall in February, with a potential switch from Udinese set for the summer.
But after a freak collision, he dislocated his shoulder on debut - and had to watch his team-mates crash out to League One opposition.
Wes Morgan has a back strain and Nampalys Mendy a knee injury, but both will likely pull on a Leicester shirt again this season.
Watford - Roberto Pereyra
THE exciting Argentian netted on his Hornets debut back in August and looks a real talent.
Formerly of River Plate, Juventus and Udinese, his pace and creativity are welcome attributes and well suited to the Premier League.
But after career-saving knee surgery, Watford fans will be hoping he returns the same player next term when they will look to build on this season's exploits.
West Ham - Angelo Ogbonna
UP until January, Ogbonna was a near ever-present in the Hammers starting lineup and looked to have made the centre-back position his own.
But a long-term knee injury sustained before Christmas required surgery in January and the Italian was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Despite the Hammers slight upturn in form, boss Slaven Bilic looks set to leave in the summer if they can’t grind out a tenth placed finish or better.
Bournemouth - Callum Wilson
A TALENT, but an injury-prone talent.
Wilson suffered a second devastating cruciate knee ligament injury in the space of just 16 months in February and won’t play a part in the Cherries run-in.
Prolific when he plays, the ex-Coventry man has failed to stay fit for an extended period during his time on the South Coast since Bournemouth's promotion in 2014/15.
He netted twenty times in that campaign and would love to make a similar impression in the top flight - but his knees look to have other ideas.
Southampton - Jeremy Pied
A FAVOURITE of boss Claude Puel, former Nice and Lyon defender Pied is known in France for being a steady and dependable right-back.
He came to St Marys on a free transfer in the summer but lasted just TWELVE days - before being ruled out for the season with a knee problem.
Stoke - Stephen Ireland
INJURIES have really affected the Irish midfielder who was arguably one of the Premier League’s most talented youngsters.
A teen-sensation for Manchester City, his career has stalled since 2010 and he’s never been able to play regularly without picking up knocks.
Ireland has featured just 30 times in three years for Stoke - and none at all in the last campaign after suffering a double leg break in May last year.