The pre-match press conferences for Gameweek 17 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) got underway on Thursday, with seven Premier League managers facing the media.
The key quotes and team news are provided in the ‘live’ article below, so hit refresh for the latest updates.
We’re hoping to hear from the other 13 top-flight bosses on Friday. For those clubs, including the latest on Erling Haaland (£14.0m), Anthony Gordon (£6.2m) and more, check out our early team news round-up here.
FPL GAMEWEEK 17 TEAM NEWS: INJURY UPDATES
- Tottenham Hotspur: Lo Celso joins the injury list
- Everton: Two banned, two right-backs out
- Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ait-Nouri should be fit, Neto still out
- Fulham: Ream out, Willian trains
- Burnley: Taylor banned, Ramsey “touch and go”
- Sheffield United: Baldock + McBurnie return
- Nottingham Forest: Murillo + Aurier to be assessed
THURSDAY’S GAMEWEEK 17 PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Giovani Lo Celso (muscle) is the only fresh addition to the Tottenham Hotspur injury list, taking the number of unavailable Spurs players into double figures.
“The only one that is new this week is Gio, he unfortunately got a bit of a niggle at training. I don’t know exactly what it is but he missed training today so he’s not available tomorrow. We’re hopeful it’s nothing too serious.” – Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou said last week that, following the comebacks of Richarlison and Pape Matar Sarr, there “won’t be anyone else coming back between now and the new year”.
James Maddison (ankle), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Manor Solomon (knee), Ivan Perisic (knee), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Alfie Whiteman (ankle), Ben Dier (groin) Ashley Phillips (ankle) and Rodrigo Bentancur (ankle) all look set to remain unavailable for Spurs until Gameweek 21 at the earliest, then.
“It’s not just the games it affects. It affects training. When we had all the guys fit at the start of the year, the level of our training was a lot higher, we could be a lot more intense with what we do. It’s a little bit different now.
“But it was good to get back Pape and Richy last week, and that certainly helped us to freshen up the team. Hopefully between now and the New Year, although then we’ll lose players to international commitments, it’s kind of where we’re going to be for the foreseeable future.” – Ange Postecoglou on his lengthy injury list
Postecoglou said that he was still unsure exactly when in early January Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Son Heung-min will also be off to the Asian Cup around that point.
“No, we’re still working through that. I’m kind of focusing on what’s ahead between now and then and we’ll go through all of those permutations over the next couple of weeks.” – Ange Postecoglou on if he knows when Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma’s last game will be yet before they head off to the Africa Cup of Nations
EVERTON
Veteran right-backs Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young will miss this weekend’s match because of minor niggles.
Everton have also lost Jarrad Branthwaite and Idrissa Gana Gueye to suspension after the pair picked up their fifth bookings of the campaign last weekend.
Long-term absentees Dele Alli (hip) and Andre Gomes (calf) are making progress but still not in first-team contention, with the latter scheduled to get another run-out for the under-21s on Friday.
Michael Keane and Vitalii Mykolenko should be fit, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin has shown no adverse reactions to the busy week just gone.
“Youngy, Seamus, won’t be right for this one. We’re hoping for a quick recovery from them two.
“Keano has trained today, so long as there’s no reaction, he’ll be back in the thinking.
“Myko had a bit of a niggle but I think it’ll be OK.
“Dom is fine.
“Dele is still on the grass, but just going back through the motions to get back involved, and Andre [Gomes] has been training with us for a few weeks now. He needs 90 minutes and we’re hoping he gets that [for the under-21s] tomorrow.” – Sean Dyche
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Gary O’Neil confirmed on Thursday that Rayan Ait-Nouri (ankle) “should” be back for Wolves after his recent absence.
“Rayan should be back and available, hopefully. He came through training well today.” – Gary O’Neil
Pedro Neto (hamstring), Joe Hodge (shoulder) and Jonny Otto (disciplinary) remain unavailable for selection, however.
“No, [Neto is not training] just yet. He won’t be involved in the West Ham game but we’re really hopeful he’ll be in the matchday squad for the Chelsea game.
“If he isn’t in the matchday squad for Chelsea it doesn’t mean there’s been a huge setback. He’s really close but with the nature of the injury, ‘being close’ still isn’t enough.
“We need to make sure he’s right. If everything goes perfectly, I’m hopeful he’ll be seen before Christmas.” – Gary O’Neil on Pedro Neto
FULHAM
Tim Ream will likely be out until after Christmas with a calf injury he first felt in Gameweek 15, while Adama Traore (hamstring) is not ready to feature despite a recent return to training.
Marco Silva says that Issa Diop (foot) should be able to take his place among the substitutes at Newcastle, however, while the Fulham manager’s assertion that “all the others [bar Ream and Adama] are going to be available” suggests that Tyrese Francois (knock) is fit again.
Willian (hamstring/fatigue) was a minor concern from Gameweek 16 but has trained on Thursday.
“Tim Ream is going to be out and Adama [Traore] as well. All the others are going to be available for the match.
“Yeah, [Willian’s OK], he trained this morning. Of course, we keep assessing him… trying to recover him as quickly as we can. Of course, we want him ready, not just for the next match but for all of December – it is going to be really busy. But he did train this morning, he felt OK. Let’s see the next few hours how he’s going to feel.” – Marco Silva
BURNLEY
Charlie Taylor will be banned for this match after collecting his fifth booking of 2023/24 last weekend, while Luca Koleosho looks set to miss much of what remains of the season with a knee injury.
Aaron Ramsey (knee) is “touch and go”, while Vincent Kompany confirmed on Friday that Michael Obafemi‘s recent absence from the matchday squad was injury-related – although not too serious.
“I think we can exclude any kind of dramatic scenarios with [Ramsey] but at the moment, it might be touch and go for Saturday.
“Again, a short-term issue [for Obafemi]. Nothing major.
“Hopefully the fitness is there for them to compete. We should have them available very soon.” – Vincent Kompany
There was no update on Josh Cullen (unspecified) and Jack Cork (calf), who were on the sidelines last weekend.
Lyle Foster, meanwhile, continues to receive treatment for his mental health.
“Lyle is making progress. We’re still following him closely, he’s still receiving treatment. But we’ve been fortunate that we’ve been able to work with him on the fitness side and physically he’s in a good place.
“[The physical work] started elsewhere and then we’re progressing into the next phase.
“I’m not able to put a timeframe on it. What is important for me is that physically he’s in a good place and it seems like we’ve made progress, so we’ll see.” – Vincent Kompany on Lyle Foster
Kompany added that he doesn’t envisage that Foster will leave for the Africa Cup of Nations in January, despite being named in South Africa’s long-list.
“Unfortunately at the moment, he’s not in a position where he can go to the national team, he just can’t.
“It’s not something he can do at the moment, going away for a long time and being in a very different environment.” – Vincent Kompany on Lyle Foster
SHEFFIELD UNITED
The Blades have lost Jack Robinson to a one-match ban but get Oli McBurnie and Oliver Norwood back from their own suspensions.
George Baldock (leg) and Ben Osborn (unspecified) missed out last weekend but are now fit and available, too.
“We want it to be competitive in terms of team selection and with the likes of Norwood, George Baldock and Oli Mac coming back, that obviously gives us that little bit of vital experience that we need as well.
“Ben Osborn will be involved at the weekend, as well, which is good news.” – Chris Wilder
Rhian Brewster (knee) and Rhys Norrington-Davies (hamstring) are back on the grass after spells on the sidelines – over a year in the latter’s case – but are still being carefully managed in their rehabilitations.
Chris Basham (leg), Tom Davies (thigh), John Egan (leg) and Daniel Jebbison (illness) remain out.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Steve Cooper said on Thursday that Murillo will be assessed ahead of the visit of Spurs after the centre-half limped off against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
Serge Aurier (calf) was ruled out for a “couple of weeks” by Cooper just seven days ago but could himself be back for this clash.
As a result, Taiwo Awoniyi (groin) is the only Forest player who is definitely on the sidelines for the Gameweek 17 curtain-raiser.
“We’ll see, we’ll see. Obviously [Murillo] limped off against Wolves.
“Serge, as well, is one that’s fighting to be fit for the game – so inconclusive at the moment.
“I’m just trying to think if there is anyone else, obviously Taiwo is the long-term one. He’s a long way away from being back with us.” – Steve Cooper
