The team news for Gameweek 34 is beginning to filter through as the pre-match press conferences get underway.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Graham Potter, Marco Silva, Kieran McKenna and Simon Rusk faced the media on Thursday, with the headline team news from these pressers in the article below.
Of the 11 other teams who have a Premier League fixture in Gameweek 34, we’ll get updates from 10 of them on Friday.
The odd man out is Thomas Frank, whose Brentford side doesn’t play next until next Thursday. He’ll fulfil his media commitments long after Saturday’s deadline has passed, sometime next midweek.
GAMEWEEK 34: THURSDAY’S KEY TEAM NEWS UPDATES
- Fulham: Muniz out, Smith Rowe could feature, Sessegnon seemingly fit
- West Ham United: Wan-Bissaka should be fit, Alvarez set to miss out
- Leicester City: Vardy to leave, Mavididi out, McAteer could return
- Ipswich Town: Davis banned, late decision on Delap, at least eight injured
- Southampton: No fitness concerns for Rusk
GAMEWEEK 34: THURSDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna was a late addition to the above list at 1.30pm BST
FULHAM
It’s good news for Raul Jimenez owners: Rodrigo Muniz (unknown injury) looks set to miss out again this weekend, having sat out the Gameweek 33 defeat to Chelsea.
“Probably, we’re almost sure, that Rodrigo is going to be, unfortunately, out for the next game. Let’s see after that but even for straight away after it’s going to be very difficult to have him back. Unfortunately for us, he’s a big miss.” – Marco Silva on Rodrigo Muniz
Someone else who was unavailable last Sunday, Emile Smith Rowe (back), has trained this week, however.
“Emile Smith Rowe is working with the team throughout the week so far. We have another session tomorrow and after we are going to take a decision. Looks like he’s going to be in contention for the game.” – Marco Silva
Reiss Nelson (hamstring) is still sidelined.
Given that Marco Silva mentioned Ryan Sessegnon‘s name when discussing his right-wing options, we’re assuming that the ‘out of position’ defender is fine after there were suggestions of him picking up a knock in Gameweek 33.
“Both situations could happen, to be honest. Ryan Sessegnon is doing very well, on the left, on the right, he is helping the team in a very good way. He took his chance definitely with goals, with assists and all that stuff. Harry, as you know, is always a threat and we can use him from the start, from the bench. I understand the question. He was a long period out of the games and the training sessions too but he’s in a good shape, needs game time definitely but is in a good shape. From the start, from the bench, I need to decide. He’s going to be definitely involved because we need his goals, we need his assists as well because he’s been very important for us.” – Marco Silva when asked if Harry Wilson will start or be on the bench this weekend
Silva’s answer to a follow-up team news question also suggests Sessegnon is absolutely fine.
“It’s just Rodrigo who is completely out of the game, unfortunately for us, plus Reiss Nelson. As you know, all the others until now, they are okay.” – Marco Silva
WEST HAM UNITED
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (toe) should be fit for the trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, having missed out against Southampton last weekend.
Edson Alvarez is likely to miss out with a back injury, however.
The Hammers also remain without Crysencio Summerville (hamstring) and Michail Antonio (leg).
“Edson Álvarez is still out with a back [problem]. He’s just going to probably miss the game. [We’re] hopeful [for] next week.
“Long-term absentees will still be there. Aaron Wan-Bissaka should be back, should be available for the squad.” – Graham Potter
Evan Ferguson, who is on loan from Brighton, is ineligible to face his parent club.
LEICESTER CITY
The big news coming out of the Leicester camp on Thursday was the announcement that Jamie Vardy is to leave the club at the end of 2024/25.
Team news-wise, we didn’t get any fresh updates in the broadcast section of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s presser.
However, the Leicester Mercury has reported new quotes from the Leicester boss.
Stephy Mavididi, the Foxes’ main danger man in recent weeks, may be out for the season with a muscle problem.
“Stephy Mavididi, he came off with a muscle injury so he won’t be part of Saturday’s game and probably not for the coming weeks, so that’s a blow because he’s been playing really well.
“Doubtful [whether he’ll feature again this season].” – Ruud van Nistelrooy, quoted by the Leicester Mercury
Kasey McAteer, who unexpectedly missed out on the matchday squad in Gameweek 33, could return, at least.
“Kasey McAteer, on the other hand, came back into team training and hopefully can make it into Saturday’s game.” – Ruud van Nistelrooy, quoted by the Leicester Mercury
The only other player definitely on the sidelines is long-term absentee Abdul Fatawu (knee).
IPSWICH TOWN
Leif Davis begins a three-match ban after his dismissal for serious foul play last weekend.
Kieran McKenna meanwhile confirmed that Conor Townsend (hamstring), Kalvin Phillips (Achilles) and Nathan Broadhead (thigh) remain out.
Aro Muric (shoulder), Wes Burns (knee), Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles), Sammie Szmodics (ankle) and Jaden Philogene (knee) are also sidelined.
Omari Hutchinson (hamstring) wasn’t mentioned by his manager, who has been known to be slippery with team news in the past – so there is the possibility that we’ll see the attacking midfielder on Tyneside.
Liam Delap meanwhile continues to nurse a rib issue and McKenna says it’ll be a “late decision” as to the striker’s involvement.
“I don’t think it’s where Liam’s focus is. His focus is on trying to get back to full health and get ready for Newcastle.” – Kieran McKenna on speculation over Liam Delap’s future, via Suffolk News
“We’re in a challenging spot in terms of availability, to be honest. I’m not going to go through every single one because I’ll probably be naming the fit players that we have left to Newcastle. But we’re in a really difficult spot in terms of availability.
“We’re still going to be waiting on a few right until tomorrow and we’ll try and make the right decisions. Hopefully, we’ll have enough to be competitive.” – Kieran McKenna, via EADT
With Davis and Townsend out, McKenna has to choose between Jacob Greaves or rookie Somto Boniface at left-back/wing-back.
“You always want to give those opportunities when they’re there and when they’re earned, so it was nice, in one way, to have Somto on the bench last weekend.
“You don’t want to see any of the senior players miss out though and it’s still important to respect the fact that every Premier League appearance is important to these group of players. It would be unfair or inappropriate, I think, to give out appearances without them having been earned.
“But Somto’s a very good young player. Of course, he’s not been with us at the football club for too long, but he’s made a really good impression, fitted into that group well done and trained well.” – Kieran McKenna, via EADT
SOUTHAMPTON
Simon Rusk says the Saints have no fresh concerns for this weekend.
“No major concerns from last week. A few knocks and niggles, normal stuff, moving into this game. We’ve got a clean bill of health overall. Again, as I had last week, I’ve got a few decisions to make about what the starting line-up could look like and equally the bench. Good problems to have.” – Simon Rusk
While the interim Southampton boss declared that his side has a clean bill of health, that may not include Albert Gronbaek (Achilles). Rusk said last week that the loanee was yet to train with the club, having been out for the whole of April.
Charlie Taylor (hip) hasn’t been in a matchday squad for over two months.
