The ongoing discussions regarding future structural changes to the game, such as the introduction of new tournaments (eg. Fifa Club World Cup), further intensify this challenge. These changes have the potential to significantly reduce the downtime available to elite players, affecting their recovery and overall well-being.
Before the latest round of Premier League fixtures, here is all the key injury news alongside essential Fantasy Premier League statistics. The gameweek kicks off with Manchester United at home to Manchester City at Saturday lunchtime (12:30 GMT) - here is the full fixture list. This article will be updated as Premier League managers give their weekly news conferences. For more FPL help, don't miss our regular Friday Q&A from 15:30 BST live on the BBC Sport website, with one of our four experts