After an international break that surely set some kind of record for yellow flags, the pre-Gameweek 12 press conferences are set to begin.
Seven pressers are scheduled to take place on Thursday. With Thomas Frank and Enzo Maresca among those holding court, we will hopefully get the latest on Bryan Mbeumo (£7.9m) and Cole Palmer (£10.9m) – among others.
We’ll have the headline Gameweek 12 team news from these media gatherings in the article below. We will gradually add more quotes as and when the press conferences become available to watch in full.
We expect to hear from the other 13 top-flight managers on Friday. For the latest on those clubs, check out our early team news round-up.
GAMEWEEK 12 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY’S INJURY UPDATES
- Chelsea: James the only definite absentee, Palmer among several doubts seen in training
- Brentford: Frank expects Mbeumo, Wissa + Pinnock to be fit
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Dunk “close”, Kadioglu unlikely, Baleba fit
- Everton: Branthwaite + McNeil train, Broja not ready, four others still out
- Nottingham Forest: Sangare + Danilo the only two definite absentees
- Leicester City: Fatawu out for the season, Vardy in modified training, Ayew not seriously injured
- Southampton: Ramsdale + Bednarek out for several weeks
GAMEWEEK 12 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
🚨 Thursday's #FPL Press Conferences (GMT) ⏳
🕊️ 9am – Hurzeler
🦊 9.30am – Cooper
🧿 12pm – Maresca
😇 1pm – Martin
🌳 1.30pm – Nuno
🍬 1.45pm – Dyche
🐝 2.30pm – Frank pic.twitter.com/FGEQlyQP1A— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) November 21, 2024
CHELSEA
Despite the raft of yellow flags on Chelsea players, Enzo Maresca said the only confirmed absentee for trip to Leicester is Reece James – who wasn’t previously flagged.
“We have for sure just one injured player, that is Reece. Unfortunately, he felt something small [in his hamstring]. We do not want to take any risk for the weekend. So he’s the only one for sure that is not available for this weekend.
“Hopefully it’s not something long.
“The rest, some of them are better, some of them are still doubts. Also we need to wait because today is the first session that we do with all the players from the international teams.” – Enzo Maresca
Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Filip Jørgensen and Romeo Lavia all pulled out of their national squads with knocks or niggles over the break.
Jadon Sancho meanwhile missed out in Gameweek 11 with a knock.
But all of the outfielders above were seen in training this week.
BRENTFORD
Thomas Frank says he expects Bryan Mbeumo (unspecified issue), Yoane Wissa (unspecified issue) and Ethan Pinnock (hip) to be fit for the trip to Everton this weekend.
All of them pulled out of their respective national team squads without kicking a ball.
“All of them I expect to be available and ready for Saturday. In all three situations, different minor issues. It was a little bit similar to the last international break when we had Damsgaard and Norgaard called up for Denmark but they didn’t travel. They managed to be ready for the next game. Sometimes a week’s rest makes all the difference. So, I expect them to be ready. We are very thankful for the cooperation from the three national teams.” – Thomas Frank
Igor Thiago (knee) and Gustavo Nunes (back) both featured in a behind-closed-doors game in the November break, with Thiago set to be in the squad on Saturday.
Rico Henry (knee) wasn’t involved, however, and the Bees remain cautious with his recovery.
Aaron Hickey (hamstring) and Josh Dasilva (knee) are long-term absentees, while Kristoffer Ajer (foot) isn’t ready to return.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
There’s a lot to unpack from the Seagulls.
Fabian Hurzeler started his team news round-up with the latest on Jack Hinshelwood (knee), who remains a doubt after his Gameweek 11 withdrawal.
“With Jack, we have to see how it’s going the next two days. He has a small issue with his knee, nothing serious but we have to see and wait the next few days.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Jack Hinshelwood
There was a positive update on Lewis Dunk (calf), however.
“Lewis Dunk was training, also let’s see how the next two days are going. But he’s close.” – Fabian Hurzeler
In further good news, Yankuba Minteh (muscle) returned to action with Gambia over the last fortnight.
Carlos Baleba (knee), who pulled out of the Cameroon squad, is also fit.
“He will be an option, yes.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Carlos Baleba
James Milner (hamstring) remains out, with no sign of a return. Ferdi Kadioglu (toe) looks set to remain sidelined, too.
“Ferdi had a small issue after the game against Liverpool. He wasn’t able to play the games for the Turkish national team. We also shouldn’t take any risks, so I don’t think that he will be an option for the weekend. With the others, I’m more positive.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Ferdi Kadioglu
The last line of Hurzeler’s quote above offers hope regarding some of the other flagged players. They include Yasin Ayari (ankle) and Tariq Lamptey (calf), who both withdrew from their respective national team squads as precautions.
Adam Webster (hamstring) should be nearing a return too based on previous timelines set, while it’s only match fitness that is holding Solly March back after a year on the sidelines with a knee injury.
EVERTON
Dwight McNeil (knee) has been back on the grass this week after missing out in Gameweek 11.
Jarrad Branthwaite (groin) also trained on Thursday following his precautionary withdrawal from the England squad.
“Dwight has come through it well actually, he’s had a really good week of training.
“Jarrad trained today after settling things down, so we’ll see how he responds overnight. But we’re hopeful on that and should be okay.” – Sean Dyche
Youssef Chermiti (foot), Armando Broja (foot), James Garner (back), Tim Iroegbunam (foot) and Seamus Coleman (hamstring) all remain unavailable.
Chermiti and especially Broja, however, are nearing returns.
“[Broja won’t be] involved but he’s back training. He’s only just getting into full training, he’s been doing bits, acting as a floater, just light bits, getting him integrated into the group, as much for his injury as well. He’s had a full week of training but he does need a games programme, obviously.
“We’re looking at dates [for games] now because we wanted to make sure he came through his first full week… he’s done well with that. He said he feels good and he’s looking fit so we’ll introduce the games programme as soon as the medical, sports science and myself align but it’s very soon now, I think.
“Youssef is making good progress as well. He’s slightly behind [Broja in terms of his rehab] but he had his first full day with us today. That’s pleasing, because he’s worked very hard, a very unfortunate injury.
“Seamus is on the grass but he’s with the medical side so he’s just taking the first steps back.
“Jimmy [Garner] has had good news from the specialist. He’s been out a while now so he’s going to have to start the training period again. It’s a back [injury], unfortunately I’ve had a few myself. You have to be careful in the initial spell.
“Tim is similar but different. The stress response in his foot is clearing up so he can start semi-loading again now and making sure that he starts his progress back.” – Sean Dyche
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
All looks fairly positive on the team news front at Forest.
Longer-term absentees Danilo (ankle) and Ibrahima Sangare (hamstring) are the only two definite absentees.
“We still have Sosa to arrive because he played later. The rest of them are here. For now, okay. Just managing some players, some situations. As we mentioned before, we take the chance in this internatonal break to recover some players.
“[Danilo and Sangare] are definitely out, they cannot be involved. We have some other situations to manage and decide.” – Nuno Espirito Santo
Elliot Anderson and Ola Aina both withdrew from their national team squads over the last fortnight.
Aina was reportedly taken off with a knock in Nigeria’s match against Benin a week ago and subsequently returned to his club, although there had been an agreement in place for that to happen even before the injury.
LEICESTER CITY
The Foxes have suffered a huge blow with the confirmation that Abdul Fatawu is to miss the rest of the season after suffering an ACL tear.
“It’s not good, a serious injury. He’s had an ACL injury that is going to rule him out for the rest of the season.” – Steve Cooper on Abdul Fatawu
The winger joins Jakub Stolarczyk (ankle) and Ricardo Pereira (hamstring) on the longer-term injury list.
There were fears that Jordan Ayew had also suffered a significant issue while away with Ghana but Steve Cooper said on Thursday that the former Crystal Palace attacker isn’t as badly injured as first feared. He didn’t, indeed, even rule him out of Gameweek 12.
“Jordan has come back injured as well from international duty. It’s not as serious an injury as I think might have been reported locally in Ghana. The hope is that he may be available for the weekend but it’s a little bit inconclusive at the moment.” – Steve Cooper on Jordan Ayew
Elsewhere in striker news, Jamie Vardy (back) is only in “modified training” after missing out in Gameweek 11.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid has been on the grass, too, as he manages a cut above his Achilles.
Finally, Patson Daka is available after three months on the sidelines with an ankle problem.
“Patson is back training so he’s available. Jamie has been back training with the group but slightly sort of modified, so we’ll see where he is [with] regards to the weekend.
“[De Cordova-Reid] has been on the training pitch. He’s had a cut in the United League Cup game. It was in an awkward position above the Achilles. It’s been a bit stop-start for him so it’s been frustrating. He trained with us yesterday so the hope is that the cut hasn’t opened up again but it has been frustrating for him.” – Steve Cooper
One definite absentee is Facundo Buonanotte, banned for one match thanks to yellow card accumulation.
SOUTHAMPTON
Saints have lost two more of their players to injuries over the break.
Jan Bednarek (knee) and Aaron Ramsdale (finger) both pulled out of their respective international squads over the last fortnight and now face “weeks” on the sidelines.
“They’ll both be out for this weekend and a number of weeks.
“Aaron has had an operation on his finger, he’ll hopefully be back this side of Christmas.
“Janny B, we spoke really quickly after the game. He was really worried about his knee injury. Thankfully the injury is not as significant as we fear, hopefully a week or two before Aaron.” – Russell Martin
Ross Stewart (hamstring), Gavin Bazunu (Achilles) and Will Smallbone (hamstring) remain out, meanwhile.
Ryan Fraser returns from illness, however.
Flynn Downes (knee) is also fine after pulling out of the side to face Wolves two weeks ago, although Russell Martin says the midfielder will have to be “managed” in the busy weeks ahead.
