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Missing in action

Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal among clubs set to lose players in African Cup of Nations

Leicester could be without Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani while West Ham, Stoke and Crystal Palace could also be hit

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MANCHESTER UNITED, Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal are among a host of Premier League clubs who could lose big-name players for up to a month at the African Cup of Nations.

Defending Premier League champions Leicester may be without last season's player of the year Riyad Mahrez - who netted a stunning free-kick against Lesotho last night - and new signing Islam Slimani.

Leicester could be without Riyad Mahrez for a month while he plays for Algeria
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Leicester could be without Riyad Mahrez for a month while he plays for AlgeriaCredit: Getty Images
Jose Mourinho will be without the defensive powerhouse that is Eric Bailly
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Jose Mourinho will be without the defensive powerhouse that is Eric BaillyCredit: PA:Press Association

While Man United's Eric Bailly, City's Yaya Toure, Stoke's Wilfried Bony, West Ham's currently injured star Andre Ayew, Toffees' Yannick Bolasie, Liverpool's Sadio Mane and Arsenal ace Mohamed Elneny could all be missing.

Bailly, Bone and Toure all represent defending champions Ivory Coast and could be joined in Gabon by team-mates including Sunderland's Lamine Kone and Bournemouth's Max Gradel.

Algeria will likely use Mahrez and Slimani and Claudio Ranieri may also be deprived of defender Jeff Schlupp as well as Daniel Amartey owing to Ghana's qualification.

Yaya Toure will likely be in action for the Ivory Coast as they defend their crown
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Yaya Toure will likely be in action for the Ivory Coast as they defend their crownCredit: Getty Images
Wilfried Bony recently moved to Stoke but could miss most of January
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Wilfried Bony recently moved to Stoke but could miss most of JanuaryCredit: Action Images
Jurgen Klopp will be left with a significant hole in his attack when Sadio Mane leaves
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Jurgen Klopp will be left with a significant hole in his attack when Sadio Mane leavesCredit: Getty Images
Goodison fans may well be without Yannick Bolasie for a month thanks to the African Cup of Nations
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Goodison fans may well be without Yannick Bolasie for a month thanks to the African Cup of NationsCredit: Getty Images

There is bad news for Everton chief Ronald Koeman as he is poised to lose £25million man Bolasie through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, plus Idrissa Gueye to Senagal.

The Lions of Teranga could land a further triple-whammy on the Prem, using Anfield star Mane, Hammers ace Cheikhou Kouyate and Stoke's Mama Biram Diouf.

Crystal Palace midfielder Bakary Sako should join Mali and the Eagles may lose the services of left-back Papa Souare, again to Senegal.

Cheikhou Kouyate's national duties may hinder West Ham's hopes of European football
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Cheikhou Kouyate's national duties may hinder West Ham's hopes of European footballCredit: PA:Press Association

West Brom's Allan Nyom can feature for Cameroon, Watford may lose Nordin Amrabat, Egypt will use Elneny and Stoke's Ramadam Sobhi and Tunisia may pick Sunderland star Wahbi Khazri.

Note there will be no Nigerians in the frame as they again missed out on qualifying for the second straight time after winning the thing in 2013.

The tournament will be held from January 14 to February 5 2017.

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