We’ve got the all-important Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team news to bring you as the pre-match press conferences for Gameweek 3 get underway.
Seven Premier League bosses fulfil their media duties on Thursday, including Fabian Hurzeler, Marco Silva and Julen Lopetegui.
And we’ll be bringing you the latest key quotes and injury updates in the ‘live’ article below. Quotes will be gradually added as and when they become available.
We expect the other 13 top-flight managers look set to hold press conferences on Friday. For the latest on those dozen sides, check out our early team news summary.
GAMEWEEK 3 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY INJURY UPDATES
- Brighton and Hove Albion: O’Riley faces lengthy spell out, Hurzeler discusses goalkeepers
- Brentford: Hickey suffers massive setback, Toney not considered for selection
- Fulham: Everyone available, Silva on Pereira + Smith Rowe
- Everton: Three still out but Coleman, Garner + Young available
- Nottingham Forest: Update on Danilo, Yates ill
- West Ham United: Cresswell set for a spell on the sidelines
- Leicester City: No changes to squad, Coady returned in midweek
GAMEWEEK 3 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Bart Verbruggen (unspecified), Evan Ferguson (ankle) and Pervis Estupinan (ankle) all returned to the Brighton matchday squad in midweek. That trio hadn’t kicked a ball since 2023/24, missing all of Albion’s pre-season friendlies.
Don’t expect to see De Zerbi-style rotation between the sticks now that Verbruggen is back – but who is number one is not yet known.
“For me, it’s clear that we will have a number one in this season. There will be clear roles for them and I will be very, very straight with this communication. I will be very honest with them. That’s important for me that they know their roles in the team, not only in a goalkeeper position [but] also in the other positions. I’m very happy to have both of them.
“So, Jason made some really good games for us in the pre-season, and then in the Amex against Manchester he had a great impact on the squad and on the pitch. That’s why I’m really happy to have him. As well, Bart shows especially in the Euros how good he is, the potential he has. I think he can become one of the best goalkeepers in the world if he keeps going. If he keeps improving together with my goalkeeper coaches, then he has a great future.” – Fabian Hurzeler on his goalkeepers
“I think when he is in his best shape, he’s one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. He is full of energy, he is full of power and now we have to reintegrate him as quickly as possible because he had a long injury. After long injuries, to come back is not easy. He missed a lot of content, a lot of tactical things also in the pre-season, so it’s important now to get for him a mix between video sessions and pitch sessions. That’s why I think that he will be a great player for us again but we shouldn’t put pressure on him because after a long injury, the players need time to adapt.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Pervis Estupinan
The recovery of those players was offset by the loss of new boy Matt O’Riley, whose debut lasted just nine minutes.
The midfielder now faces ankle surgery and a spell on the sidelines.
“As we expected, it’s a bad injury. He needs surgery on his ankle. I can’t say how long we expect him to be out. We have to look at how the rehab will go.
“It’s a tough one for us but we try to support him the best way we can, we try to get him as fast as possible on the pitch. Let’s hope he will be back soon.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Hurzeler was asked about whether O’Riley’s injury will affect the way he uses versatile recruit Ferdi Kadioglu, a £4.5m defender in FPL.
“What’s very positive is that Ferdi is very flexible, he can play a lot of positions. Now we have to see because he couldn’t train with the team a lot. We have to see today, tomorrow how he gets integrated. Maybe he will be an option in the squad, maybe not.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Ferdi Kadioglu
Fellow summer arrivals Brajan Gruda and Mats Wieffer were absent against the League One side. Wieffer also missed out in Gameweek 2 with a minor issue.
Gruda hasn’t featured at all since joining the south-coast club. He was already carrying a small injury when he signed.
“I don’t think that he’s an option yet. We have to wait today and tomorrow, but it’s like 49/51 [that he will be involved].” – Fabian Hurzeler on Mats Wieffer
BRENTFORD
Aaron Hickey is expected to miss most of the season due to a hamstring injury.
The full-back, who has been out since 2023 and was nearing a return, suffered a setback in training last week and has undergone surgery.
Igor Thiago (knee) and Josh Dasilva (knee) remain out, too.
Rico Henry (knee) is closing in on a return after a lengthy lay-off.
“He is starting to get game-time behind closed doors on Wednesday or Thursday, so that’ll be good for him. Then hopefully he’ll progress quick.” – Thomas Frank on Rico Henry
Thomas Frank confirmed that Ivan Toney, omitted from the squad in the first two Gameweeks, won’t feature in Brentford’s upcoming clash with Southampton as speculation persists over a move away.
“I can say Ivan will not play on Saturday.” – Thomas Frank
FULHAM
Marco Silva confirmed that there were “no changes” to the Fulham team news and that all his players are available.
“From the last two games, no changes. We are going to have another session but until now, good news: all the players, they are available.” – Marco Silva
Silva was asked about playing Emile Smith Rowe and Andreas Pereira in the same side. Replying that is was one possibility (Sander Berge, Sasa Lukic, Tom Cairney, Josh King and Harrison Reed were also namechecked as options), the Fulham boss also laid down a bit of a challenge to Smith Rowe:
“I know that Emil has something different and can add something different for us. He has to adapt for the way you press, the way we prepare ourselves off the ball, because that position demands really hard work from ourselves.
“Andreas was a crucial player the last two seasons for us, not just on the ball [but also] the work he does off the ball, is top, top level. Of course, Emile has to adapt for that role.” – Marco Silva
EVERTON
Jarrad Branthwaite (groin), Nathan Patterson (hamstring) and Youssef Chermiti (foot) will miss out again.
Seamus Coleman (calf) and James Garner (calf) returned in midweek, however, while Ashley Young is back from a ban.
James Tarkowski is also fine after not being risked in the EFL Cup.
“With Shay [Coleman] and Jimmy [Garner], we had to monitor their minutes and be careful with them. They have been wanting to come back but with not enough training, really, so I was really pleased with their performances and how they went about it. So, that adds a bit more depth to us.
“Jarrad is still a bit of time away, Youssef is obviously a bit of time away as well. Patto is making sensible strides back and we knew that would take a bit of time.
“So, we’re still with three very good, very strong players missing and a couple who are nearing to full fitness but not quite.
“Yes [Tarkowski is available]. He had a minor situation that we just had to be careful with because, obviously, he’s just getting back to full fitness but he’s trained today [Thursday] so as long as there’s no reaction to that he should be fine.” – Sean Dyche
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Nuno Espirito Santo provided an update on Danilo (ankle), who suffered a serious injury in Gameweek 1.
“Danilo had surgery two days ago. The surgery went well. He’s going to be out.
“First of all, the important thing is that he takes his time; that he does not make any mistakes. For now, he is not allowed to put his foot on the ground. It is a small detail, but it is a big detail.
“We do not want to rush him, we do not want to put him under any pressure to come back. He has to settle down.” – Nuno Espirito Santo, via the Nottingham Post
The only other named concern is Ryan Yates, who missed Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United due to illness.
“Yates was ill. He had a problem with his stomach and he could not participate in the game.” – Nuno Espirito Santo
WEST HAM UNITED
Aaron Cresswell looks set for a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
He’s the only known fitness concern for the Hammers, who welcomed back Edson Alvarez this week.
“Unfortunately he suffered his injury. We don’t know how [long] he will be out, we have to wait for the medical test.” – Julen Lopetegui on Aaron Cresswell
LEICESTER CITY
Steve Cooper has reported no changes to the Leicester squad from the midweek cup tie against Tranmere Rovers.
Conor Coady returned from a hamstring injury to feature on Tuesday.
Patson Daka (ankle) and Jakub Stolarczyk (ankle) remain sidelined.
