The pre-match press conferences for Gameweek 25 get underway on Thursday.
Seven managers will face the media, with the headline team news from these pressers in the article below.
For the early injury situation at the other 13 Premier League clubs, read this piece here.
GAMEWEEK 25 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY’S INJURY UPDATES
- Chelsea: Jackson out for 6-8 weeks, James fine, three others still out, goalkeeper latest
- Nottingham Forest: Hudson-Odoi trains, Awoniyi breaks nose
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Dunk doubtful, Estupinan still out, Wieffer could return
- West Ham United: Summerville setback, Alvarez, Paqueta + Todibo train
- Leicester City: No fresh concerns, Vardy, Vestergaard + Kristiansen should be fit
- Southampton: Harwood-Bellis + Stephens out, Lallana a doubt
- Ipswich Town: Szmodics not seriously injured, Chaplin still out
GAMEWEEK 25 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
🚨 Thursday's #FPL Press Conferences (GMT)
🕊️ 9am – Hurzeler
🧿 10.30am – Maresca
🦊 11am – van Nistelrooy
🌳 1.30pm – Nuno
😇 1.30pm – Juric
⚒️ 1.30pm – Potter pic.twitter.com/QGbEw17V5h— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) February 13, 2025
*Kieran McKenna was belatedly added to the list at 1.30pm GMT
CHELSEA
The Blues have been hit by a double injury blow up front.
Both Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson sustained hamstring injuries in the Gameweek 24 win over West Ham United, with Enzo Maresca confirming the rumoured timeline on Jackson.
Away from that strike duo, Romeo Lavia (muscle), Wesley Fofana (hamstring) and Benoit Badiashile (muscle) are working their way back but still out.
“Nico will be out until the international break, probably available after the international break. Marc Guiu also will be out for a while. Romeo Lavia is in the process to come back with us, Benoit Badiashile exactly the same. Wes Fofana started to work with us two days ago, that means that he still needs two or three weeks at least to be 100% fit with us.
“[Lavia] could be again more or less like Nico, probably after the international break.
“We knew that it was a muscular problem [for Jackson] but we didn’t know how important it was. His feeling, his reaction was quite good, we all thought it was not a big injury. Unfortunately, he had the scan a few days ago and it is an important one – he will be out around six to eight weeks.” – Enzo Maresca
Mykhailo Mudryk remains provisionally banned by the Football Association.
In better news, Reece James is fine: he was merely rested in the FA Cup last weekend.
Maresca discussed possible deputies for Jackson, with Christopher Nkunku not the only one mentioned.
“Christo could be one of the solutions but is not the only solution. We are going to try to find different solutions.
“I said since day one that Christo is not a nine, Christo is an attacking midfielder. But we use him as a nine to find a solution. We know very good that Christo is not a proper nine.
“[The wingers] could be a solution. For sure, Pedro, Noni or even Tyrique, they can try and be a solution for us. Jadon with the different kind of skills. But it’s not just about the nine. When you don’t have a proper nine, yes you need to use a different kind of nine but also you need to change a little bit the way you play. You can not be direct, probably you need more linking because you don’t have a threat in behind, you don’t have a nine. We are going to find a solution.” – Enzo Maresca
Filip Jorgensen looks set to remain in between the posts, meanwhile.
“I said that the Filip solution was also to give Robert some time to recover mentally and physically. But the idea is not to game by game change the keeper. In the last Premier League game, against West Ham that we won, it was Filip. Unfortunately in the FA Cup game, it was Robert. Our keeper at this moment is Filip.” – Enzo Maresca
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Callum Hudson-Odoi (groin) is back in training and could be involved against Fulham this weekend.
“He’s progressing, he’s progressing. He joined the group yesterday, today also, part of the sessions. We still have tomorrow to assess him and a lot of players due to a lot of knocks but we still have a training session.
“Yeah, I’m positive, I’m positive that [he will be involved] but we still need this 100%. Let’s wait for tomorrow. I’m positive about it.” – Nuno Espirito Santo on Callum Hudson-Odoi
We didn’t get an update on Murillo (dead leg): he missed the Exeter City game but had trained “normally” ahead of that tie.
Forest suffered two new issues on Tuesday: Taiwo Awoniyi (nose/concussion) and Carlos Miguel (hamstring).
“He broke his nose, so he’s in pain. He’s just with the medical department and waiting for the right protocols to be followed. We have to wait and see if he’s available. He has a concussion so we have to be really careful.” – Nuno Espirito Santo on Taiwo Awoniyi
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Pervis Estupinan (muscle) looks set to remain out this weekend, while Solly March (muscle) is likely not ready to feature despite returning to training.
Mats Wieffer (quad) might be available, however, after his own return to the grass.
“Estupinan is still doing rehab, he won’t be an option for the game. Mats Wieffer trained this week, he might be an option for the game. We have to see how training’s going today. Solly March is also back in training but I think it’s still too early for him.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Lewis Dunk (ribs) came off at half-time in last weekend’s cup win over Chelsea and remains doubtful.
“Lewis is doubtful. We have to see if he can train today but I am not sure if he will be ready for the game tomorrow.” – Fabian Hurzeler
James Milner (hamstring), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Igor Julio (hamstring) and Jason Steele (shoulder) are still out.
Away from injuries, Fabian Hurzeler was asked about Georginio Rutter, who played a part in both Brighton goals last weekend and who may be competing with Joao Pedro for just one spot.
“He’s a role model for that, he’s an athlete, he can win personal duels, he can use his body in a very effective way, he can run a lot, he can sprint a lot and on top of that he’s a very positive guy.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Georginio Rutter
Hurzeler did, however, leave the door open for Pedro – benched in the cup – and others to return in Gameweek 25.
“I wouldn’t say [my job is] simple because I think we still have a lot of other great players who want to begin the game, who might be starters and therefore [we] still have to make decisions because we had a training week which was very intense, where everyone showed that he wants to play, and now it’s about making the right decisions.” – Fabian Hurzeler
WEST HAM UNITED
Niclas Füllkrug (hamstring) and Michail Antonio (leg) remain out this weekend.
Graham Potter meanwhile confirmed that Crysencio Summerville has suffered a fresh hamstring injury and likely won’t be seen before April.
Lucas Paqueta (groin), Edson Alvarez (back) and Jean-Clair Todibo (unknown) – who has been out since before Julen Lopetegui was sacked – have returned to training this week, however.
All of them could be in the squad, even if a start is probably a tall order for Todibo.
“Paqueta has trained, should be available. Alvarez has trained, should be available. Todibo is making good progress, has got a chance of making the squad – probably a little bit soon to start but certainly the squad.
“Fullkrug is still away. Antonio is still away, of course.
“Summerville had a setback with his hamstring, so we’re probably looking around after the international break for him.
“Apart from that, I think we’re okay.” – Graham Potter
New loan signing Evan Ferguson is available, although Graham Potter perhaps hinted at substitute duty initially.
“He hasn’t played that much football recently so we have to just be careful of that in terms of how many minutes he plays and whether that’s the start or whether that’s the end of the game, we can make that decision. He’s certainly shown his quality, I think he’ll get stronger and stronger and better and better the time he’s with us but he’s ready to help the team.” – Graham Potter on Evan Ferguson
LEICESTER CITY
Ruud van Nistelrooy confirmed that he has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Arsenal game.
Jamie Vardy, Jannik Vestergaard and Victor Kristiansen, who missed the FA Cup tie at Manchester United with minor issues, have all trained this week and should be involved.
“They had a good week of training. They’re back in full training. So, all being well today and tomorrow they’re ready for selection.
“No other news other than that.” – Ruud van Nistelrooy on Messrs Vardy, Kristiansen and Vestergaard
Abdul Fatawu (knee) and Ricardo Pereira (hamstring) remain on the longer-term injury list.
SOUTHAMPTON
Jack Stephens (calf) and Taylor Harwood-Bellis (ankle) will miss out this weekend after picking up issues in Gameweek 24.
Adam Lallana (hamstring) meanwhile is now a doubt.
“We have a problem with Harwood-Bellis. He’s not ready yet and I’m really disappointed about that. Lallana has a little bit of a problem with the hamstrings. We will see tomorrow.
“I think Lesley [Ugochukwu] is good. Everything else is good.
“Jack Stephens is out, I’m sorry. Because he was out even in the last game. I think next week he will start training with us. We have to be careful because it was a long time that he was out. Even like this, I have a feeling that he is important. I will be delighted when he comes back and starts training with us again.” – Ivan Juric
Ryan Fraser (unknown), Juan Larios (unknown) and Ross Stewart (hamstring) were all still absent for last week’s cup defeat to Burnley.
IPSWICH TOWN
Wes Burns (knee), Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles) and Christian Walton (groin) are all on the medium-to-long-term injury list.
Conor Chaplin (knee) isn’t ready to return, either.
There were concerns about Sammie Szmodics (ankle) after he hobbled off on his comeback game in the FA Cup last weekend but Kieran McKenna says the issue isn’t as serious as first feared.
He could even come into the reckoning for the Aston Villa game, with further assessment to follow.
