There was plenty to clear up in Thursday and Friday’s press conferences after an international break littered with minor injuries and squad withdrawals, so it was a relief that most Premier League managers were – mostly – obliging with their fitness updates.
Nuno Espirito Santo gave Matt Doherty the green light to play against Huddersfield Town on Sunday after the Irish wing-back’s facial injury had caused him to miss his country’s two fixtures over the last fortnight.
Santo said:
After the [Arsenal] game he had his problem with his eye. One week he was taking care, now he’s much better and I almost say 100% to go.
The Wolves head coach also confirmed what we suspected about Jonny‘s knee injury, with the Spanish international set to miss the next six weeks.
Gylfi Sigurdsson and Andre Gomes are “both OK” according to Everton manager Marco Silva, having returned to training in the build-up to Saturday’s match against Cardiff City.
Pep Guardiola ruled Benjamin Mendy out for 10-12 weeks in his presser on Friday, while also gave the following update on Bernardo Silva:
He cannot play this weekend. This game, and I don’t know if next Tuesday [in the Champions League].
There were several yellow flags among Manchester United’s squad prior to Jose Mourinho’s press conference, but there was positive news about Anthony Martial and other players from the Red Devils’ boss this afternoon:
Martial stayed with us, he didn’t go with the national team. He worked really hard. He was in a pre-injury situation, but worked really hard and he’s going to play tomorrow. Fellaini is going to play.
Rashford came back with a little problem but he is ready. Lukaku is ready, with a little bit of a risk, but ready, and Paul [Pogba], we knew in this break he would recover so I don’t think we have players who I can say are out of the game tomorrow.
Adam Lallana is Liverpool’s only absentee for the trip to Watford, though Jurgen Klopp stirred the pot with these comments about Andrew Robertson this afternoon:
Robbo came back and will train today for the first time after two very intensive games for Scotland.
Kieran Trippier, Davinson Sanchez and Danny Rose will miss out for Spurs this weekend, though Jan Vertonghen is back on the training pitch and will be assessed after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Arsenal will be without Nacho Monreal for another fortnight, though Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang look likely to feature against Bournemouth on Sunday.
The Cherries could have Joshua King available after the Norwegian striker returned to training.
Wilfried Zaha and James Tomkins have been passed fit to play by Roy Hodgson, while Andy Carroll and Jack Wilshere are back in contention for West Ham United – who have Robert Snodgrass suspended – this weekend.
The injury situation at Chelsea looks rosy, with Maurizio Sarri giving the following update:
No big problems. As usual, after the international teams, there are some little problems, some with a little injury, some are a bit tired. Kovacic is doing better, he had an ankle problem. I think that he will be able to play.
Claude Puel brought us up to speed on James Maddison, Harry Maguire and Jamie Vardy:
Maddison come back [in the] training session, we will see tomorrow, but I think he can be in the squad. For Maguire, it’s too early, we will see next week.
With Jamie, he was in pain after the last game and he come back today in the training session, and we will see tomorrow.
Pascal Gross and Davy Propper have returned to bolster Chris Hughton’s midfield options, though Alireza Jahanbakhsh remains sidelined.
Paul Dummett was ruled out of the Monday night clash with Burnley, while Yoshinori Muto, Jonjo Shelvey and Jamaal Lascelles have another couple of training sessions to prove their fitness.
The Clarets could have Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Steven Defour available, with Sean Dyche “expecting” both players to be fine. James Tarkowski looks unlikely to feature after hernia surgery, however.
Danny Ings is a “big doubt” for Southampton with a hamstring injury, while Fulham will be without Kevin McDonald and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa for Claudio Ranieri’s first match in charge.
Chris Lowe is Huddersfield’s only injury-enforced absentee, though Zanka will be suspended.
Harry Arter returns from a ban for Cardiff, while Etienne Capoue does likewise for Watford.
Our Team News tab has more detailed write-ups on every Premier League side, while our regular Press Conference Call can viewed below.
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