FPL Gameweek 18 team news: Monday’s injury updates + Saka latest

The Gameweek 18 team news will begin to arrive on Monday as the pre-Boxing Day press conferences take place.

There are 10 pressers scheduled for the day.

More will follow on Christmas Eve, while other managers – like Arne Slot – will have fulfilled their media commitments in the aftermath of Gameweek 17. Those quotes will be released from embargo in the coming days.

As ever, we’ll bring you the key Fantasy Premier League (FPL) injury updates on this page.

This is a ‘live’ article, so it’ll be updated as and when manager quotes become available – so keep refreshing for the latest news.

GAMEWEEK 18: MONDAY’S KEY TEAM NEWS UPDATES

• Arsenal: Saka + Sterling out for “many weeks”, Arteta discusses right-wing options
• Newcastle United: Magpies to check on ban-free Joelinton, Botman close, Pope latest
• Brighton and Hove Albion: van Hecke fine, Hurzeler hopeful on Wieffer, Welbeck still out
• Brentford: Ajer + Pinnock out for weeks, too soon for van den Berg + Jensen
• Aston Villa: No team news from Emery, Carlos hoping to be back
• Everton: Young suspended, McNeil likely to miss out, Broja returns
• Bournemouth: Some “niggles” for the Cherries, five still sidelined
• West Ham United: Two unnamed doubts, Paqueta banned, Soler available
• Nottingham Forest: Nuno coy again on team news, Dominguez suspended
• Southampton: No fresh injury concerns, Stephens back, Cornet ineligible

GAMEWEEK 18: MONDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES

Southampton’s Ivan Juric and Aston Villa’s Unai Emery were belatedly added to the above list

ARSENAL

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka will be out for “many weeks” after he suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday.

“It’s not looking good, he’s going to be out for many weeks. I cannot be too specific because I don’t know but it will be many.” – Mikel Arteta on Bukayo Saka

“I would be very optimistic that he’s going to be back well before the end of the season.” – Mikel Arteta when asked if there was any risk that Bukayo Saka could be out for the rest of 2024/25

Raheem Sterling (knee) is out for “weeks”, too.

“He’s going to be out for weeks, I believe. He needs some further testing tomorrow to understand the extent of the injury. It’s his knee.” – Mikel Arteta on Raheem Sterling

On potential replacements for Saka on the right flank, the Arsenal boss explained his decision to use Gabriel Martinelli there on Saturday and discussed other alternatives.

“That’s the first one that we decided to go through especially because he’s played there before. He played the last game there against Everton in the last match of the season. He did really well, I think he did really well again the other day. He scored a goal, he created an assist and he’s a good option to have.” – Mikel Arteta on Gabriel Martinelli playing on the right

“Gab [Jesus], he’s played there. Ethan [Nwaneri], he’s played there. Leo [Trossard] can play there in relation to how that unit moves. Kai [Havertz] can play there, asking him different things. So, we will see. We will try to speak to them as well and understand how they feel about it.” – Mikel Arteta on the right-wing options

Arteta didn’t mention any other team news but Ben White (knee) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are expected to remain out.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (unknown) was given a good chance of being fit for Gameweek 17 (he didn’t feature), so we may see him return on Friday.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Joelinton is available again after suspension but the Magpies will have to check on the facial injuries he sustained against Brentford in the EFL Cup last Wednesday.

“We hope so. We will have a look at him today. He had various facial injuries after the last home game against Brentford, in which he came off. A couple of stitches in and around his ear, so we will see how he is today.” – Eddie Howe on whether Joelinton will be available

Joe Willock should be fine despite needing treatment before his substitution on Saturday.

“As far as I know, [Willock] is fine. I think, on shooting, his head took a little bang to the floor but I think he’s fine.” – Eddie Howe on Joe Willock

Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Callum Wilson (hamstring), Nick Pope (knee) and Emil Krafth (collarbone) remain on the sidelines.

“[Pope] is doing okay, he was given a timeframe initially where he had to rest. He has had a couple of injections in his knee. He’s feeling better, he’s feeling strong. Quite when he will be fit, it is still difficult one to give a definitive date on.

“Emil is working well. It was a serious enough injury. He’s had an operation. He’s now back on grass and running. The big thing for him will be contact and when we introduce him back into the type of training that will test the injury the most. But the good news is he is fit, running and looking good.” – Eddie Howe

Sven Botman (knee) is back in training and could be involved very soon. He has featured for the under-21s and in a practice match in the last couple of weeks.

“Yeah he’s getting closer. Pleased with how he’s been in the last couple of weeks. He’s had various tests, whether that’s in training or from the games that you mentioned. Came through another practice match at the weekend, on Saturday. Did well, looking good. So, yeah, it’ll be a case of deciding when we reintroduce him to the squad.

“The challenge for Sven is to earn his place back; it’s certainly not going to be given and that would be the same for anybody. I think when you’ve had such a long-term injury, there will be a period where Sven will have to work back to his best level. That’s the same for everybody but it’s great to have competition for places, that’s what we’ve missed.” – Eddie Howe on whether we could see Sven Botman on Boxing Day

On the subject of festive fatigue, Howe highlighted how he’s been able to take players off early after three successive thumping wins in league and cup.

“What we’ve decided to do is look at it on a game-by-game basis. So, last week was a three-game week [but] because of the scoreline in a couple of games, we were able to just ease players’ minutes and manage the squad within the game. So, then we felt the players were fresh enough to go again.

“We’ll do the same, we’ll continue to do it on a game-by-game basis rather than making decisions beforehand on who we’re going to rest.” – Eddie Howe

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

James Milner (hamstring), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Jack Hinshelwood (knee) and Danny Welbeck (ankle) will probably miss out again.

Fabian Hurzeler didn’t mention any of them specifically but they weren’t thought to close to a comeback and their names weren’t included in the list of potential returnees further down this page.

The Brighton boss indeed said after Saturday’s game that Welbeck would miss out on Brentford’s visit.

Hurzeler did however express hope that Mats Wieffer will shake off the quad injury he sustained in Gameweek 17.

“We have to see day by day how it’s going. It’s not perfectly how it came out of the game but we hope that it’s not that big an issue.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Mats Wieffer

Adam Webster (muscle) and Solly March (knee) are back in full training after lengthy absences, which in March’s case extends to over a year.

“Adam Webster will be hopefully an option. Also Solly March is is doing really well so hopefully we can see one of them back in a squad.” – Fabian Hurzeler

Jan Paul van Hecke should also be fine despite suffering a cut to the head on Saturday.

“Afterwards it was swollen, it was quite bloody but there were no other additional problems. He felt good and that’s why we are really sure that he will train today and he will be an option for the game.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Jan Paul van Hecke

“I don’t have any new news. I think everyone came well out of the game, so no additional injury and hopefully some players return. So, let’s see how the next days are going and then hopefully we’re ready for the next game.” – Fabian Hurzeler

As for the busy schedule, Hurzeler discussed the prospect of rotation.

“We have to really take care of the health of the players now the next period of time. We have to look if they are fresh enough for the games because I think in some moments of the [West Ham] game, we miss a little bit the intensity. That’s why the most important topic now is the freshness for the players, so that they’re ready for both games.

“Then we have to make a clear plan: who can play the first game, who’s ready for two games, who might only be ready for one game.” – Fabian Hurzeler

BRENTFORD

The Bees’ team news situation has got even worse in the last few days.

Kristoffer Ajer (ankle) has joined Ethan Pinnock (hamstring) on the injury list for “weeks” after sustaining a problem in Gameweek 17.

And while Sepp van den Berg (groin) and Mathias Jensen (hamstring) are closer, the Brighton and Hove Albion game comes too soon.

“Ethan Pinnock… it’s a bigger one. Weeks, a hamstring injury.

“Sepp van den Berg is more minor, his groin. Too short a turnaround for Brighton. Let’s see for Arsenal.

“Kristoffer Ajer went off injured [on Saturday] and unfortunately, it’s an ankle injury. Similar to Yoane Wissa earlier this season and to Ethan Pinnock last season when he got an ankle injury against Wolves. So, that’s also weeks.

“Mathias Jensen is positive, getting closer. Too short again for Brighton.” – Thomas Frank

Josh Dasilva (knee), Igor Thiago (joint infection), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Rico Henry (knee) and Gustavo Nunes (back) were already sidelined.

Thomas Frank didn’t mention Mads Roerslev in his team news round-up, suggesting that the Danish defender suffered only a superficial cut to the head on Saturday.

ASTON VILLA

There was no team news from Unai Emery in his pre-match presser.

Jacob Ramsey (hamstring) has been unavailable since the November international break.

Diego Carlos missed out in Gameweek 17 with a “small pain from a kick” he received in training. Emery had hoped that Carlos would be for Boxing Day.

While there were no injury updates, Emery did talk up Morgan Rogers.

“We need his number [the target for goals and assists], and more or less he is getting it.

“I am very demanding with him, with the team, with myself, but with Morgan, because he is very important for us.

“I need his performance every match we are playing, with different objectives as well – sometimes playing a number 10, sometimes left side, defensively and offensively, assists, score goals, get in the box, try to make the link with our midfielders and defence when we are progressing with the ball.

“He has a lot of responsibility in my idea, style, and of course I am trying to push him a lot. I am very happy with him, but I want more from him.” – Unai Emery on Morgan Rogers

EVERTON

Dwight McNeil (knee) looks set to miss out again in Gameweek 18.

“Dwight is still touch and go, we’re not sure on that. We’re hopeful it’ll settle down. Probably not for this one but sooner rather than later.” – Sean Dyche

James Garner (back) and Tim Iroegbunam (foot) remain sidelined, too.

Ashley Young will be unavailable as he picked up his fifth booking of the season on Sunday.

The veteran full-back also “ricked his neck” in the goalless draw with Chelsea but Sean Dyche expects him back in Gameweek 19.

“He should be fine, that should settle down quite quickly, but he can’t play anyway – suspended.” – Sean Dyche on Ashley Young

Loanee Armando Broja is available, however, having been unable to face his parent club in Gameweek 17.

BOURNEMOUTH

Luis Sinisterra (hamstring), Alex Scott (knee), Julian Araujo (hamstring), Marcos Senesi (quad) and Marcus Tavernier (hamstring) are all on the Cherries’ injury list at present.

Andoni Iraola meanwhile reported no major changes to the Bournemouth team news, although did mention some post-game “niggles”.

“I don’t expect anyone new in the squad. I hope we don’t lose also nobody else.

“It’s true that some players finished with niggles from yesterday. I hope they recover and they are able to help the team against Palace but we still don’t know because today we will be assessing them to see if they can train these two days.

“I think we are now quite thin, numbers wise, and it is a busy period. We will take the decision with the line-ups and these things considering every small detail in the physicality of the players.” – Andoni Iraola

In quotes released from embargo later in the day, one of those niggles was revealed to be Adam Smith. He was substituted at half-time in Gameweek 17 with muscle tightness.

 “Adam is a little bit like the situation with Antoine [Semenyo] the other day, feeling some tightness. With Antoine he recovered well and you could see yesterday.

“I hope with Adam it happens the same but we don’t know because we haven’t still assessed him and we don’t know.” – Andoni Iraola, in quotes reported by the Bournemouth Echo

WEST HAM UNITED

It was more of the same from Julen Lopetegui on the injury front.

The West Ham United boss once again mentioned that the Hammers have some injury doubts without naming names.

“We have a little problem with two players, one treatment in the knee about one of them. Let’s see in the next days if they are going to be ready or not for Southampton, if they are already better, but if not we have to take advantage of all our players.” – Julen Lopetegui

Of the team news we do know, Michail Antonio faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a lower-leg fracture in a car crash two weeks ago.

Lucas Paqueta is banned but Carlos Soler is back after serving a one-match suspension.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Much like Lopetegui, Nuno Espirito Santo was keeping his cards close to his chest on the team news front.

“Assessing, assessing. It was a very tough game. We came in today, with players doing recovery with knocks. We are assessing. I think we still have time to make the decisions.” – Nuno Espirito Santo

It remains to be seen if Danilo (ankle) is available for selection, following his recent return to training after a long spell out.

Ibrahima Sangare (hamstring) remains out.

Nicolas Dominguez won’t be involved, either, after picking up his fifth booking of the season on Saturday.

SOUTHAMPTON

Ivan Juric held his first press conference as Southampton boss on Monday afternoon.

In the embargoed section, released later in the evening, the Croatian confirmed that the Saints have no new worries.

Of the pre-existing injuries, Will Smallbone (hamstring) was previously said to be aiming for a comeback around Christmas but Juan Larios (unknown), Ross Stewart (hamstring) and Gavin Bazunu (Achilles) remain sidelined.

Loanee Maxwel Cornet is unable to face his parent club, meanwhile.

Jack Stephens is back from a four-match ban, however.

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