We’ll be hearing from at least 15 Premier League managers on Friday – and we’ll be bringing you the key Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team news for Gameweek 14 as it arrives.
Four top-flight bosses faced the media on Thursday, with the main updates from those to be found in this separate article here.
Brighton and Hove Albion’s Roberto De Zerbi is the only other Premier League boss not included in the press conference time list below but there’s hope that we may still get some team news from the Seagulls camp.
This is a ‘live’ article and will be updated as and when the press conferences are staged on Friday. Make sure to hit refresh for the latest injury updates.
FPL GAMEWEEK 14 TEAM NEWS: INJURY UPDATES
- Aston Villa: Watkins a doubt
- West Ham United: Moyes gives nothing away on Bowen
- Newcastle United: No-one expected back, Botman training alone
- Crystal Palace: Eze hoping to avoid surgery, Doucoure could be out for the season
- Chelsea: Nkunku + Lavia close, James + Cucurella banned
- Liverpool: Darwin v Gakpo, Kelleher to deputise for Alisson
- Arsenal: No fresh concerns, Raya available after missing Gameweek 13
- Manchester City: Kovacic back in training, Pep unsure of Stones start
- Tottenham Hotspur: Sarr + Richarlison the closest to a recovery but may still miss out
- Manchester United: Mount back in training but ten Hag unsure of his return date
- Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ait-Nouri out, Neto not ready, two suspended
- Brentford: Jensen still absent, Roerslev returns
- Luton Town: Kabore returns, Nakamba still a doubt
- Bournemouth: Kelly out, no one expected back
- Fulham: Four still absent, Palhinha back from a ban
FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
ASTON VILLA
Unai Emery said on Friday that Ollie Watkins, who missed Thursday’s win over Legia Warsaw, is a “doubt” going into the clash with Bournemouth.
Emery had said a day earlier that Watkins had reported “a small pain” in training.
“He is going to be a doubt for Sunday but we are adding other players like Jhon Duran, Zaniolo, Ramsey, getting more minutes.
“He is not completely not available for Sunday, we are going to wait for tomorrow and it depends if we can take a risk or not with him. What he feels for one match, 90 minutes, the demands we are going to face on Sunday.
“We are going to think only [about] the match on Sunday. At the moment, 50/50 for Sunday.” – Unai Emery on Ollie Watkins
Boubacar Kamara picked up his fifth booking of the season last weekend and will miss this contest, as will long-term absentees Tyrone Mings (knee) and Emi Buendia (knee).
Nicolo Zaniolo is fit after missing Gameweek 13 with a minor issue but we haven’t had an update on Bertrand Traore, who returned from the November internationals with yet another injury.
WEST HAM UNITED
David Moyes couldn’t offer us anything useful on Jarrod Bowen (fluid on the knee), saying only that he’d need to consult with the West Ham medical team before making a decision on the attacking midfielder’s involvement this weekend.
Bowen, who missed out last Saturday, didn’t travel to Serbia for Thursday’s clash with TSC Bačka Topola.
Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez and Vladimir Coufal were also absent for that UEFA Europa League tie, with Moyes reporting that he left “a couple” of players behind due to illness.
Michail Antonio (knee) remains out.
“Because we’re only just back [from Serbia], I’ll find out in training a bit later today. We left several behind, a couple had bits of viruses and flu-like symptoms, so I’ll get the chance to see them a bit later on and find out.
“Jarrod [Bowen] had an injury, so I’ll pick up with the medical team who were with him and see what they feel. Hopefully, I’ll have a wee bit of a better idea this afternoon.” – David Moyes
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Eddie Howe said on Friday that he wasn’t expecting any of his injured players back for the visit of Manchester United, although loanee Lewis Hall is available after he was ineligible to feature against his parent club in Gameweek 13.
“Not presently as I sit here talking to you now.” – Eddie Howe on whether he thinks that any of his injured contingent could return in Gameweek 14
So, the Magpies look again set to be without Harvey Barnes (toe), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Elliot Anderson (back), Matt Targett (hamstring), Dan Burn (back), Sandro Tonali (ban), Javier Manquillo (groin), Joe Willock (Achilles), Callum Wilson (hamstring), Sean Longstaff (ankle) and Sven Botman (knee).
Howe provided us with an update on Botman, who continues to train alone. The hope is that the Dutch defender avoids the need for knee surgery by gradually reintegrating him into training.
“He’s not training with us at the moment. He’s building up very slowly, he’s building his load to make sure we don’t hit the knee with too much.
“At the moment, it’s reacting really well to the work that he’s doing. We hope that continues. He’s such a big player for us, we’d love to get him back” – Eddie Howe on Sven Botman
Barnes is yet to train with the team as his return draws nearer, while Willock and Longstaff aren’t thought to be too badly injured.
“We hope both Sean and Joe aren’t long-term injuries. We’re hopeful we can get them back [in the near future]. The problem is that even two or three weeks at this stage seems like a lifetime because of the amount of games we’ve got.
“It’s very difficult to give you a definitive time on both players but they’re not too bad.” – Eddie Howe on the fitness of Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock
Matt Ritchie and Emil Krafth are at least able to pad the bench out, having been ineligible to face Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Tino Livramento came in for some praise from his boss, meanwhile.
“A really talented lad, you can see that on the pitch, but his ability to ride what is happening in a really unflustered way has been a real credit to him, his family and his upbringing. Really, really pleased with the impact he has made.” – Eddie Howe on Tino Livramento
CRYSTAL PALACE
Eberechi Eze (ankle) and Cheick Doucoure (Achilles) both came off in the defeat to Luton last weekend, with Roy Hodgson confirming that Doucoure has “snapped his Achilles tendon” and could be out for the season.
Eze saw a surgeon at the start of the week and is again seeking specialist advice today, with Hodgson hopeful that his playmaker won’t need surgery. His foot remains in a boot for now, however.
Rob Holding has joined the injury list for a month but James Tomkins (calf) is back.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (hamstring), Dean Henderson (thigh) and Nathan Ferguson (hamstring) remain out.
CHELSEA
Mauricio Pochettino hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of Romeo Lavia (ankle) and Christopher Nkunku (knee) featuring this weekend, saying the long-injured pair were “close” but needed further assessment.
Nkunku stands the best chance of being involved in some capacity.
“We need to assess tomorrow and then decide. They are close but we need tomorrow to take a decision. Maybe Lavia is the more difficult but we need to assess Christopher Nkunku.” – Mauricio Pochettino
Chelsea have plenty of other issues, however.
Reece James and Marc Cucurella will both be suspended for this clash, the former because of his red card at Newcastle last weekend and the latter because of yellow card accumulation.
“Too many times he was injured and now, step by step, he’s building his fitness. I think he was a little bit tired in the moment he got the second yellow card. Of course, he realises that he’s still far away from his best condition, to complete 90 minutes, and is working really hard. He feels sorry about the situation. It was tough for him and tough for the team.” – Mauricio Pochettino on Reece James’ red card and fitness
And the Blues will again be without the injured Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (hamstring) and Carney Chukwuemeka (knee).
Malo Gusto (knee), meanwhile, was not seen in midweek training photos and was described as “undergoing his rehabilitation programme” in Chelsea’s weekly injury bulletin.
LIVERPOOL
There wasn’t a huge amount new on the injury front in Jurgen Klopp’s pre-match press conference but the Liverpool boss had at least told us earlier in the week about the injuries to Alisson (muscle) and Diogo Jota (muscle).
Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Stefan Bajcetic (calf) and Thiago Alcantara (hip) also remain out.
Caoimhin Kelleher will now deputise for Alisson between the posts.
“Yeah, no doubt [he is ready to be a number one]. No doubt. We see him every day in training. He is an exceptional, exceptional talent. Maybe we don’t mention his name often enough but it is a John Achterberg thing. From day one when I am in, he told me this will be our homegrown boy who will make it. Since then, we see every step. He was a boy and now he’s a man. And yeah, top goalie, no doubt.
“Obviously, for him it is the situation he didn’t want to have [Alisson Becker being injured] but obviously somehow, yes, because he wants opportunities, he wants to play. Now he will get a few games, definitely. And I trust him. – Jurgen Klopp on Caoimhin Kelleher
Klopp was asked about whether he had a selection headache up top, with Cody Gakpo scoring on Thursday night.
“It is not about that. The boys don’t have to convince me in the games. We don’t rotate. This is my squad, this is my team and they play. If somebody is not extremely awful in shape and you think, ‘My god, what is going on with him?!’ – and that didn’t happen for a long, long time – then we just decide for the game and these kind of things.
“This is the most intense period in world football coming up now, that’s how it is, for all the teams by the way. So, they all will play. We already have Diogo [Jota] not in and that’s not helpful, so yes, we have to share these kind of minutes with different players and they have to perform, not always 90, sometimes less, but 60 or 70 and then full throttle. That’s how it is.
“Darwin is in a top moment and that didn’t change, super-important for us. That he didn’t start [on Thursday] has nothing to do with anything else. Now Cody scored twice, fantastic. Does that mean he has to play the next five games in a row? Other players score as well. It is not about that and Cody doesn’t expect [that] now because of that. They have to score, that’s their job, that’s what they want, but it is not that I have sleepless nights now and don’t know who to start. It’s not that much a choice, to be honest.” – Jurgen Klopp
Klopp was then grilled about wider rotation heading into a busy December period.
“I am not sure we can rotate all the time. I don’t know, we will see that – it depends who is available. [On Thursday] we could do it and that’s why we did it. When you lose in Toulouse, for example, and then people tell you, ‘Too many changes’, these kind of things, ‘No rhythm’. I think it myself. When I saw the game I thought, ‘Was that the right decision?’ Just the problem is it is already done.
“But we have to do it as long as we can. But I don’t know if we can do it. You saw Newcastle playing in the Champions League, two goalies and three kids on the bench and a centre-half, [Paul] Dummett. That’s really tough. You have to make sure you have as many available, as much as you can have influence on, which we don’t have really. We watch it, take what we get and go from there. How I said, the toughest period in world football is coming up. It’s a good start [against LASK] and now let’s keep going.” – Jurgen Klopp
ARSENAL
Mikel Arteta’s team news was, for once, fairly straightforward.
The Arsenal boss said that he wasn’t expecting anyone back from injury and also reported that there were no fresh concerns from the 6-0 win over Lens in midweek.
Fabio Vieira is both suspended and injured for the Gunners, who also remain without Thomas Partey (muscle), Jurrien Timber (knee) and Emile Smith Rowe (knee).
On-loan goalkeeper David Raya is available again, however, having been ineligible to face his parent club Brentford in Gameweek 13.
“That’s the beauty of it. We wanted to be in that position. We are playing in big games every three days and the squad is ready. The players are hungry to play every single game. They are disappointed when we have to rest them to manage minutes. That’s a really good sign.” – Mikel Arteta on the challenge of managing three games a week
MANCHESTER CITY
Pep Guardiola confirmed that John Stones would be in the matchday squad this weekend but was unsure whether the England international would start, having failed to get off the bench since his recovery from injury.
Elsewhere, Mateo Kovacic (quad) is back in training but the game will likely come too soon for Matheus Nunes (muscle).
“[John Stones] is much better, yeah. Really close to coming back. He’ll be with us. I don’t know [if he will start]… but he’ll be there, yeah.
“Mateo [Kovacic] is already back, yesterday he trained well. Matheus [Nunes] is still weeks, days.” – Pep Guardiola
Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring) is a longer-term absentee.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
James Maddison (ankle), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Manor Solomon (knee), Ivan Perisic (knee), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Alfie Whiteman (ankle) and Ashley Phillips (ankle) are all still on the injury list for the Lilywhites.
Ange Postecoglou confirmed on Friday that Rodrigo Bentancur (ankle) has joined them on the sidelines for two months following Gameweek 13.
“He’ll probably miss a fair chunk of time between now and the New Year. Probably a couple of months for him to get back.” – Ange Postecoglou on Rodrigo Bentancur
Pape Sarr, who missed the defeat to Aston Villa with a “bit of an issue”, also looks set to remain absent but he and Richarlison (pelvic) are the closest of Spurs’ injured players to a comeback.
“Richy is probably the closest of the ones we’ve been missing. Looking to get him involved in training hopefully tomorrow and then we’ll see how he is, cos he’s obviously missed a fair bit. He feels good.
“He’s the next cab off the rank in terms of the injured guys.
“Pape is probably a little bit behind him, we’ll just see how he goes.
“Out of the injured guys, they’re the two we’re hoping will be back in the next couple of weeks. The rest of them, we won’t see till the New Year.” – Ange Postecoglou
Cristian Romero is also suspended but Yves Bissouma returns from a one-match ban.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Mason Mount (calf) is back in training after missing the last two matches in league and cup but there are no guarantees he’ll feature at Newcastle this weekend.
“Mason Mount is, today, returning on the [training] pitch, but I don’t know how long it will take until he returns [to play]. I can’t say in this moment.” – Erik ten Hag
Jadon Sancho (disciplinary), Jonny Evans (thigh), Amad Diallo (knee), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Casemiro (ankle), Christian Eriksen (knee) and Lisandro Martinez (foot) are on the sidelines for the Red Devils, who reported that Malacia has had a setback and will be out until the New Year.
Rasmus Hojlund (muscle) and Antony (knock) recovered for the midweek six-goal thriller in Turkey, however.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Rayan Ait-Nouri (ankle) will sit out the trip to Arsenal but Gary O’Neil is hopeful his defender can be back at some point next week.
Pedro Neto (hamstring) is also unavailable for Gameweek 14 but is not too far away from a return.
“Pedro is back on the grass doing some running. It’s going well, but he won’t play this Saturday.
“We’re hopeful of getting him back with the group fairly soon. There’s no date set on it.” – Gary O’Neil on Pedro Neto
Wolves’ Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes will miss this game through suspension, while Joe Hodge (shoulder) is injured.
The match may also come too soon for Nathan Fraser (quad), with an under-21s fixture next week the more realistic target for his comeback.
Craig Dawson returns from his own one-match ban, at least.
BRENTFORD
Brentford will again be without long-term absentees Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Kevin Schade (muscle), Rico Henry (knee) and Ivan Toney (suspended).
Nathan Collins will very likely also still be out, with Thomas Frank saying last Friday that the Irish centre-half will be sidelined for “weeks”.
Mathias Jensen (adductor) has failed to recover after missing out last weekend but fellow Gameweek 13 absentee Mads Roerslev has been passed fit.
A now injury-free Mikkel Damsgaard (knee) may also be involved after a 45-minute run-out in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Tuesday; Frank said it was “touch and go” as to whether he’ll feature.
Josh Dasilva (hamstring) is nearing a comeback but didn’t play in that midweek kickabout, so it’s assumed that he will not be match-ready this weekend.
LUTON TOWN
Luton will welcome back Issa Kabore this weekend after the wing-back missed the win over Crystal Palace with a concussion.
Marvelous Nakamba‘s swollen knee put him out of Gameweek 13 and he remains a doubt for the trip to Brentford.
Daniel Potts (ankle), Mads Andersen (hamstring), Reece Burke (hamstring) and Cauley Woodrow (calf) have been on the sidelines for some time, while this game may come too soon for Albert Sambi Lokonga (hamstring) despite his return to training.
BOURNEMOUTH
Bournemouth will be without Lloyd Kelly (hamstring) for Sunday’s game against Aston Villa, with no timeframe yet placed on his return.
There are no other fresh injury concerns for the Cherries and Iraola isn’t expecting anyone else back for the game.
Max Aarons (hamstring), Tyler Adams (hamstring), Alex Scott (knee) and Ryan Fredericks (calf) remain out, then.
Emi Marcondes, who has been absent all season after foot surgery, got his first minutes of 2023/24 in a behind-closed-door friendly in midweek.
FULHAM
Joao Palhinha returns from suspension for the Cottagers but Issa Diop (foot), Adama Traore (hamstring), Rodrigo Muniz (knee) and Tyrese Francois (knock) remain out, despite making progress in their recoveries.
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7 months, 28 days agoThoughts? 🙂
Watkins, Bowen, Son, Schar to Haaland, Mbuemo, Doku, Tsimikas (-8)