Eight more pre-match press conferences for Gameweek 21 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) will take place today – and we’ll be bringing you all the team news as it arrives.
They follow on from the two pressers we had yesterday.
Due to the winter break splitting the Gameweek in two, the other 10 managers won’t face the media until next week – long after today’s FPL deadline.
For the latest on those clubs, we’ve rounded up everything we know in this piece here.
This is a ‘live’ article and will be updated as and when the press conferences are stage, so make sure to hit refresh for the latest injury updates.
FPL GAMEWEEK 21 TEAM NEWS: INJURY UPDATES
- Manchester City: Haaland + Stones out, Grealish sick, De Bruyne ready to start
- Chelsea: Nkunku out, Chilwell set to return to the squad
- Tottenham Hotspur: Davies + Lo Celso out, game may come too soon for Romero
- Aston Villa: Pau + Tielemans back in training, Digne still out
- Newcastle United: Joelinton out for a minimum of six weeks, latest on Barnes + Wilson
- Manchester United: Shaw, Martinez + Casemiro all set to return
- Everton: Dyche hopeful on Doucoure, McNeil set to miss out
- Fulham: Reed should be fine, three on international duty
FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
MANCHESTER CITY
Erling Haaland (foot) and John Stones (ankle) remain out of contention this weekend.
Manuel Akanji, who limped off against Huddersfield in the cup, and Jack Grealish weren’t seen in training ground images on Thursday.
Pep Guardiola didn’t mention anything about Akanji but confirmed that Grealish had been sick and would hopefully return to training on Friday.
“Jack had been sick, hopefully today he is back.
“Erling is out, John is out… I think that’s everything.” – Pep Guardiola
The City boss also confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring) was ready to start.
“Yes [he’s in a position to start]. What I see yesterday, he feels really good and dynamic. The minutes he played were really good, better than the training sessions before the Huddersfield game.
“The important thing is he’s getting better. Now we have a game, after we have a few days off, he will train a little bit, then after we go all together with the good weather conditions to make four or five training sessions in Abu Dhabi. That will help him to be better for the next games, the next months.” – Pep Guardiola on Kevin De Bruyne
CHELSEA
Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Ben Chilwell (hamstring) and Benoit Badiashile (unspecified) have all returned to full training over the last week, with Chilwell and Badiashile set to be involved against Fulham on Saturday.
Chukwuemeka will be assessed to see if he can feature, too.
In another positive update, Trevoh Chalobah (hamstring) has rejoined training with his teammates and looks set to come back into playing contention after the winter break.
“We need to assess Carney Chukwuemeka to see if he will be available or not but Benoit and Chilly, for sure they will be involved in the squad for tomorrow.
“Chalobah has rejoined the team and started to work with the group. Now we need to assess day by day to see if he can help us as soon as possible.” – Mauricio Pochettino
There wasn’t such good news about Christopher Nkunku (hip), who still hasn’t been able to train.
“A little bit worried about the situation with Nkunku. I think it’s now 10 days that he can not train and we are assessing him.” – Mauricio Pochettino
Romeo Lavia (thigh), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Reece James (hamstring), Marc Cucurella (knee), Robert Sanchez (knee) and Wesley Fofana (knee) remain out, while Nicolas Jackson has now joined Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Sanchez will attempt to do some running in the coming days to see how his knee withstands the stress.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Ben Davies (hamstring), Giovani Lo Celso (hamstring) and Dane Scarlett (unspecified) are the newest additions to the injury list, while Son Heung-min, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are now away on international duty.
“From the last game, Ben Davies obviously came off with a hamstring so probably looking at a month or so for him out.
“Lo Celso, similar, although it’s harder to diagnose where he’s at, we’re going to send him for further tests to look at some issues. He’s miss this weekend.
“Dane Scarlett has picked up an injury in training, as well, so he’ll miss out.” – Ange Postecoglou
James Maddison (ankle), Manor Solomon (knee), Ivan Perisic (knee), Alejo Veliz (knee) and Alfie Whiteman (ankle) also remain out.
Sunday’s trip to OId Trafford could come too soon for Cristian Romero (hamstring), who has rejoined training more quickly than expected.
“Coming back, the only one who has joined the main group today has been Romero. That’s it I think, everyone else who is injured is still training away from the main group.
“Romero’s just started training so fair to say it probably might be a bit quick this weekend.” – Ange Postecoglou
ASTON VILLA
Pau Torres (ankle), Youri Tielemans (calf) and Robin Olsen (unspecified) have rejoined training and could be involved against Everton this weekend.
Lucas Digne (hamstring), who was pictured back in some form of training this week, remains out, however.
Bertrand Traore is away on international duty, while Tyrone Mings (knee) and Emi Buendia (knee) are long-term absentees.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Joelinton has joined the never-ending Newcastle injury list after he hobbled out of the win over Sunderland last weekend.
The Brazilian looks set to be missing until late February at the earliest with a thigh issue.
“It is an injury that will certainly see him miss a minimum of six weeks.
“He’s got a problem with his tendon in his quad. It’s a very difficult place to get an injury hence the timescale that he’s going to be out.” – Eddie Howe on Joelinton
Callum Wilson (calf), Sandro Tonali (ban), Javier Manquillo (groin), Harvey Barnes (toe), Joe Willock (Achilles), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Nick Pope (shoulder), Elliot Anderson (back) and Matt Targett (hamstring) look set to remain out.
Wilson, Barnes and Murphy are closing in on returns, however.
“Harvey is getting closer. He hasn’t trained with the group, but he’s been running on the grass with his boots back on and he’s been kicking balls around. We’re pleased with his progress currently, but he still has a long way to go.
“We’re well aware of what Callum’s injury is and the timescale on it. We’re hoping that he can be back in and around for the Aston Villa game, that’s what we’re looking at. Obviously, if it takes a bit longer, we’ll take that time, but we don’t see it being a long-term issue.
“Jacob is close. He has joined in training with us, not on a contact basis. He’s been in and around the team, which has been great. His personality is really good, so he’s been a big player to have back with us training.” – Eddie Howe
Howe said Willock and Anderson “are not expected back any time soon”.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Luke Shaw (knock), Casemiro (ankle) and Lisandro Martinez (foot) are all back in training and could return to the matchday squad this weekend.
Christian Eriksen and Amad Diallo are also available after missing the FA Cup tie with Wigan Athletic through injury, while Antony has been passed fit.
“This week in training, in the last couple of days, Licha Martinez [is] training, Casemiro [is] training, Luke Shaw [is] training. So, there are players returning, they are coming in for selection for Sunday.”
“Antony, yeah. Eriksen was ill in the week, he will return. Antony will return. I thought you mentioned longer-terms and unexpected… but they will return as well.
“So, Amad will return. We have more choices in this moment in the squad to put out a starting XI and create a bench [that is] stronger.” – Erik ten Hag
Tyrell Malacia (knee), Harry Maguire (groin) and Mason Mount (calf) are all nearing returns, too.
Anthony Martial (illness), Sofyan Amrabat (international duty) and Victor Lindelof (groin) remain on the sidelines.
“Mason Mount will return but take a little bit longer. There are some more, Tyrell Malacia will return as well, Victor Lindelof is also on his way back but it still takes some weeks.” – Erik ten Hag
EVERTON
Sean Dyche is “hopeful” that Abdoulaye Doucouré (hamstring) will be available for Everton’s clash with Aston Villa this weekend but Dwight McNeil (ankle) is unlikely to feature.
Ashley Young has started to take part in some full training sessions after overcoming an issue sustained in the Toffees’ 2-0 home victory over Chelsea in early December.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be available for Sunday, having had his red card in the FA Cup clash at Crystal Palace successfully overturned this week.
Idrissa Gana Gueye (international duty) and Dele Alli (hip) are out.
FULHAM
Harrison Reed had been unwell prior to the midweek cup clash with Liverpool and is still not “perfect” but should recover before Saturday’s game against Chelsea.
Tim Ream (calf) returned to the matchday squad in midweek, leaving Adama Traore (hamstring) as the only senior player on the sidelines.
Fulham do have three players away on international duty, however, namely Fode Ballo-Toure, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey.
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