PREM clubs are beginning to emerge from their enforced winter hibernation.
Qatar 2022 brought an unprecedented pre-conceived six week shutdown half-way through the campaign.
Top flight bosses are preparing for the return of the Premier League this month
But with bosses now starting to gear up through a series of friendlies for the Boxing Day return to Prem arms, the big question is how the World Cup will impact the domestic agenda.
SunSport looks at the 20 Prem teams to work out the likely winners and losers from a situation none of them will want to see repeated…
Gabriel Jesus is set to be sidelined for three months after surgery
ARSENAL
Still in: Ramsdale, Saka, Martinelli, Saliba.
Out: White (returned for family reasons), Xhaka, Jesus (injured), Tomiyasu, Turner, Partey.
MIKEL ARTETA crossed his fingers when he waved goodbye to 10 players but it could hardly have gone worse.
Jesus is facing a three-month absence after knee surgery, White went home without kicking a ball and Saliba hasn’t left the bench.
At least Saka has shone and Partey went back safe.
Verdict: Biggest losers of the lot. Potentially crippling blow.
Emi Martinez is hoping to go all the way with Argentina
ASTON VILLA
Still in: Martinez.
Out: Dendoncker, Bednarek, Cash.
UNAI EMERY will be pleased to have got all his outfield players back with three weeks to go before the Prem returns – and a chance to work with them properly.
Martinez will be buzzing after his displays for Argentina.
Verdict: Fairly neutral.
Chris Mepham and Kieffer Moore were both dumped out with Wales
BOURNEMOUTH
Still in: None.
Out: Mepham, Moore.
KIEFFER MOORE was one of the few Welsh players to return with their reputation enhanced and newly-confirmed Gary O’Neill will be hopeful he can continue to beat up centre-halves.
Verdict: Slight winners.
Bryan Mbeumo’s first Cameroon call-up saw him play World Cup football
BRENTFORD
Still in: None.
Out: Damsgaard, Jensen, Norgaard, Mbeumo, Raya, Ghoddos.
THOMAS FRANK’S biggest problem came before a ball was kicked with that major betting ban hanging over the head of Ivan Toney.
But the Bees boss will also have to cope with six disappointed players from under-achieving sides.
Verdict: A serious downer but nothing wrong physically.
Alexis Mac Alliser has become a key figure in Argentina’s side
BRIGHTON
Still in: Mac Allister.
Out: Mitoma, Trossard, Sanchez, Lamptey, Estupinan, Caicedo, Sarmiento.
MAC ALLISTER’S rise to a fulcrum of the Argentina team will have surprised many, including himself.
Mitoma will have returned full of beans but the rest may need some morale boosting by the Amex squad.
Verdict: Slightly the wrong side of neutral.
Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly were both knocked out with Senegal
CHELSEA
Still in: Mount, Gallagher, Sterling (although he may not return to Qatar), Kovacic, Thiago Silva, Ziyech.
Out: Zakaria, Pulisic, Havertz, Mendy, Koulibaly, Azpilicueta.
WORLD CUP came at a good time for Graham Potter to re-set the season but it has been a decidedly mixed bunch for him.
Sterling lost his England place, Gallagher is a water-carrier and Mount is no longer starting, while Havertz will carry the burden of Germany’s failure.
Verdict: No injuries but battered pride for some. So many going deep will be a concern.
Jordan Ayew saw Ghana’s hopes of progressing end against Uruguay
CRYSTAL PALACE
Still in: None.
Out: Andersen, Ayew.
PATRICK VIEIRA will be pleased it was Ayew’s brother Andre who missed THAT penalty against Uruguay and Denmark’s flop was not placed on Andersen’s shoulders.
Verdict: No real impact either way.
Jordan Pickford is delivering the goods between the sticks for England
EVERTON
Still in: Pickford, Coady.
Out: Onana, Gueye.
FORM of goalie Pickford will have been a big boost for Frank Lampard and justified his continued faith.
Coady appears to accept his unofficial “cheerleader” role and he is among the most popular members of Southgate’s squad.
Senegal missed suspended Gueye badly against England.
Verdict: England bubble unlikely to burst adversely for Toffees.
Joao Palhinha has been a fringe player with Portugal
FULHAM
Still in: Palhinha.
Out: Wilson, James, Ream, Robinson, Mitrovic.
ONLY real concern for Marco Silva will be whether Mitrovic pushed his weary body too hard in order to play for Serbia, although his goals will have masked much of the pain.
Welsh duo might be happy to get back into a team with some legs in it.
Verdict: Not obviously bad although toll of games may be an issue next month.
Tyler Adams helped the USA reach the last 16
LEEDS
Still in: None.
Out: Kristensen, Aaronson, Adams.
IF Greg Berhalter shared Jesse Marsch’s faith in Aaronson, the US might have gone a little bit further but Adams enhanced his reputation with a series of measured performances.
Verdict: Should not be a problem.
James Maddison is yet to play for England in Qatar
LEICESTER
Still in: Maddison.
Out: Ward, Faes, Castagne, Tielemans, Mendy, Amartey.
BELGIUM’S debacle could be a real problem for Brendan Rodgers to deal with even if his trio were not loaded with the biggest burdens of responsibility.
Ward may have been beaten five times but he has played at a World Cup.
Verdict: Will be a test of Brendan’s man-management.
Virgil van Dijk will lead Holland’s charge against Argentina
LIVERPOOL
Still in: Henderson, Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Fabinho, Konate, Van Dijk.
Out: Nunez.
KLOPP may privately be hoping to see a few of his players left disappointed this weekend but it looks like many of them will go deep – and that could force some tough selection calls over Christmas.
Alexander-Arnold may need the old arm round the shoulder.
Verdict: Big players at big teams could mean big problems but Klopp will be confident in getting things right.
Phil Foden will be hoping to keep his spot against France
MANCHESTER CITY
Still in: Ederson, Stones, Walker, Phillips, Foden, Grealish, Cancelo, Dias, Silva, Ake, Alvarez.
Out: Akanji, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Laporte, Rodri.
THE Prem’s biggest contingent at the start remains the joint biggest now, with plenty of Pep’s men having key roles.
But it is the early return of De Bruyne, coupled with the fact that Haaland has had his size 10s well rested for a month, that could prove pivotal.
Verdict: Pep will have to manage the workload of his late returners but a fresh and firing Haaland may be the season’s decisive factor.
Bruno Fernandes has been superb for Portugal
MANCHESTER UNITED
Still in: Antony, Casemiro, Fred, Varane, Maguire, Shaw, Rashford, Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Malacia, Martinez.
Out: Eriksen, Pellestri.
TEN HAG lost one squad member before the tournament began with Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, but having 11 players still involved could be bad news given he is still trying to mould his team.
Verdict: Impact may become significant over coming few weeks.
Bruno Guimaraes is enjoying his time with Brazil’s squad
NEWCASTLE
Still in: Bruno Guimaraes, Pope, Trippier, Wilson.
Out: Schar.
OTHER managers had more to fear than Eddie Howe and the Toon boss’s biggest concern will be getting his surviving quartet back safe and well for the second part of the campaign.
Verdict: England players will be full of beans, Bruno may have the biggest prize. Shouldn’t be a worry.
Remo Freuler saw his Swiss side spanked by Portugal
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Still in: None.
Out: Freuler, Hennessey, Williams, Johnson, Kouyate.
WELSH trio have already been home for a week and will be able to join in when Steve Cooper gears up the training countdown.
Verdict: Relegation or survival will be determined by quality and performances, not the World Cup.
Mohammed Salisu was part of Ghana’s side in Qatar
SOUTHAMPTON
Still in: None.
Out: Bella-Kotchap, Salisu.
ONLY the two involved and both back after the group stage, so should not be a major worry for new Saints chief Nathan Jones.
Bella-Kotchap may return frustrated at lack of involvement with Germany.
Verdict: Bigger concerns for new manager than World Cup exertions.
Harry Kane hopes to captain England to glory
TOTTENHAM
Still in: Perisic, Richarlison, Lloris, Dier, Kane, Romero.
Out: Hojbjerg, Davies, Bentancur, Sarr, Son.
BENTANCUR injury will be a concern for Conte but form of Kane, Richarlison and Son will have made the Italian smile.
Suspicion that Perisic might need some time off and fans will still harbour doubts about Romero’s commitment to Tottenham cause.
Verdict: Conte will use the World Cup to demand three more players in January, but he’d have done that anyway.
Spurs boss tapered training and approach to come on strong after resumption.
Declan Rice is England’s key man between defence and midfield
WEST HAM
Still in: Paqueta, Areola, Aguerd, Rice.
Out: Kehrer.
ANOTHER Aguerd injury against Spain will have brought a grimace to David Moyes’ face – although that’s hardly unusual.
Bigger long-term blow was Rice’s public admissions of his ambitions.
Verdict: Rice comments might cause fan backlash but otherwise no real obvious effect.
Ruben Neves is hoping to regain his place in Portugal’s XI against Morocco
WOLVES
Still in: Nunes, Neves, Sa.
Out: Hwang, Jimenez.
NEW chief Julen Lopetegui would probably have anticipated his Portuguese trio would be involved at the deep end although none of them started against Switzerland.
A fit Jimenez could be crucial for him.
Verdict: Will hope that the Mexican striker is now ready to show his pre-fractured skull form but otherwise few concerns.
