As was the case in Gameweek 19, the Gameweek 20 team news will be a hotchpotch of live press conferences and embargoed bits (of limited use) from midweek.
Whatever injury updates and key quotes we do hear on Friday, we’ll include in the article below.
Sean Dyche was the only Premier League boss to face the media on Thursday. Quotes from his presser are also below.
KEY GAMEWEEK 20 INJURY NEWS FROM FRIDAY
- Arsenal: Mosquera + Calafiori still out, Arteta non-committal on Rice
- Newcastle United: Hall should be okay, updates on Trippier, Livramento, Botman + Elanga
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Minteh deag leg but will train, Wieffer out with a toe injury
- Nottingham Forest: Aina set to return, Ndoye “touch and go”
FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
🚨 Friday's FPL Press Conferences!
🕊️ 9am – Hurzeler
⭕️ 9.30am – Arteta
⚫️ 9.30am – Howe
🍒 12.30pm – Iraola
🐺 1pm – Edwards
🐝 1.30pm – Andrews
🍷 1.30pm – Parker
🍬 1.30pm – Moyes
⬜️ 1.30pm – Silva
🔴 1.30pm – Slot
🔵 1.30pm – Guardiola
👹 1.30pm – Amorim
🐔 1.30pm -… pic.twitter.com/nafJRPTm56— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) January 2, 2026
Times to come on Nuno Espirito Santo, Regis Le Bris, Oliver Glasner and Daniel Farke.
ARSENAL
Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera (ankle) will both still be absent for the trip to Bournemouth.
“They are both out.” – Mikel Arteta on Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera
“No [fresh concerns]. Obviously, we haven’t trained yet, so today is going to be the first training session properly with the players who started against Villa. We’ll know more this afternoon.” – Mikel Arreta
Arteta wasn’t quite so helpful when discussing Declan Rice (knee), who missed out against Aston Villa.
“We don’t know yet. We have another session today, let’s see how he comes today and how that’s feeling. It was too early, that game, for him.” – Mikel Arteta on Declan Rice
More quotes to follow
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Eddie Howe thinks that Lewis Hall should be okay for the visit of Crystal Palace. The left-back suffered a blow to the ankle in the win over Burnley but lasted the full 90 minutes.
“Yeah, he should be okay. We’ll have a closer look at him today but I don’t see it being a big problem.” – Eddie Howe on Lewis Hall
It’s looking pretty positive on the fitness front, with Sven Botman (back), Kieran Trippier (hamstring), Tino Livramento (knee) and Anthony Elanga (knock) all nearing a return.
Emil Krafth (knee) and Will Osula (ankle) remain out.
“Krafth, no. He’s further back. The others, yes.” – Eddie Howe on whether there is any chance of defenders being back over the ‘next couple of games’
“Tino [Livramento] and Kieran [Trippier] have worked really well. They’ve had proper recovery periods, so they’re both close.
“Lewis Miley, I’ve said time and again how well he’s done in a position that he’s not played before. Again, against Burnley, I thought he was magnficent for us. But we’d love to get our full-backs back, fit and available.” – Eddie Howe
“I don’t think he’s close but I think he’s improving. So, hopefully we’ll see him towards the end of the month.” – Eddie Howe on Will Osula
Dan Burn (rib) is also still sidelined.
More quotes to follow
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Fabian Hurzeler has confirmed that a scan on Yankuba Minteh has come back clear, so the winger is free to train today.
However, the winger suffered a dead leg in the draw with West Ham United, and he still faces assessment on whether he can start.
Mats Wieffer is out with a toe injury, meanwhile.
Solly March (knee), Adam Webster (knee) and Stefanos Tzimas (knee) also remain unavailable, while Carlos Baleba is on international duty with Cameroon.
Kaoru Mitoma is an option to start, at least.
Quotes to follow
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Ola Aina (hamstring) is nearing a return from injury after twice featuring for the B team in recent weeks.
“Yeah, mostly good. There’s a few carrying a few knocks but we’re hopeful of them recovering. Obviously, Ola comes back into the group, as well, so that’s good.” – Sean Dyche on the latest Forest team news
“I am learning about him, I know he is a good character. I managed teams that have played against him so I know about the pace and power he has got. We are looking forward to getting him back involved. He is in contention to come back into the group.
“He has put a lot of miles on the clock, not so many game hours because of the situation. But his injury is fine, he feels fine, he is back in the group.” – Sean Dyche on Ola Aina, via the Athletic
Elsewhere, Dan Ndoye (calf) remains a doubt and Chris Wood (knee) will be out for “months” after surgery.
“Dan has a minor calf injury. It will be touch and go for him this weekend but hopefully he will return after that.” – Sean Dyche on Dan Ndoye, via the Athletic
The Tricky Trees are also down two players due to Africa Cup of Nations involvement: Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare are away with the Ivory Coast.
Ryan Yates (hamstring) was previously ruled out until January but we don’t have an exact return date. He was running on the grass, the last we heard.
