13 Premier League press conferences are scheduled for Friday – and this is the place to come to get all the major Gameweek 7 team news.
We’ll bring you the key quotes in the article below.
These pressers follow on from the four we had on Thursday.
*Regis Le Bris and Marco Rose spoke to the media after Thursday’s European matches, while Roberto De Zerbi will reportedly hold his press conference on Sunday morning, after the deadline.
FRIDAY’S KEY GAMEWEEK 7 TEAM NEWS
- Manchester City: No injury updates, Maresca on rotation + Foden
- Nottingham Forest: Gibbs-White a doubt, Milenkovic trains
- Brentford: Schade + Schuster “have been on the grass this week”, Andrews on Sangare
- Arsenal: Hincapie + Tzolis latest, Zubimendi has a chance
- Chelsea: James undergoes knee surgery
- Manchester United: Martinez in the squad, Shaw + Mainoo to be assessed
- Everton: Mykolenko could return, Branthwaite faces a late check
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Struijk to be assessed, Minteh + Wieffer getting close, Mitoma latest
- Aston Villa: Barkley + Hemmings set for late tests, Maatsen + Ruggeri out
- Leeds United: Rodon still out, James could return
- Fulham: Larsson a doubt, everyone else available
- Bournemouth: Scott “back maybe a little bit earlier”
- Sunderland: Isidor a doubt, Meunier out, Brobbey + Diarra “ready”
- Crystal Palace: Sage unsure on injured players
- Ipswich Town: Fatawu returns from suspension
FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
MANCHESTER CITY
Enzo Maresca wasn’t specifically asked about injuries in his presser, but the Italian did touch on potential rotation in the upcoming period.
“At some point probably we need to give him [Haaland] a rest, some days off. We are thinking about this. And not just with Erling, we have some players who fortunately or unfortunately are playing all the games with us, all the games with their international team, Elliot [Anderson], Enzo [Fernandez], Marc [Guehi], Erling, Ruben [Dias], so at some point we need to give them some rest.” – Enzo Maresca
Maresca later discussed Phil Foden, who is back from suspension this weekend.
The midfielder hasn’t scored since December, to which the Italian replied: “he’s going to score tomorrow”. He wouldn’t confirm if he will start against Ipswich Town, however.
“Just try to work with him day-by-day. During the international break and since the red card against United has been quite long, but he’s training well, doing well since we started, very positive, very good. And we’ll see for tomorrow, he’s available but we have so many games that we’ll decide if he’s going to start or not. But no doubt he’s going to give us something.” – Enzo Maresca on Phil Foden
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Morgan Gibbs-White picked up a “minor muscle injury” at Crystal Palace and hasn’t trained with the group this week, but could join tomorrow.
“Morgan Gibbs-White is a doubt. He couldn’t train the entire week with us. It looks like he can join tomorrow’s session. He had an individual session today with our rehab coaches. He suffered a minor muscle injury at Palace. We have to see how he reacts today and how he deals with tomorrow’s session, and then we will take the final decision.
“But luckily the injury doesn’t seem to be very serious. We have a chance that he’s available.” – Oliver Glasner on Morgan Gibbs-White
Nikola Milenkovic trained today for the first time this week.
Nicolo Savona (knee) and Igor Jesus (calf) are out.
BRENTFORD
Keith Andrews provided injury updates on Kevin Schade (shoulder) and Jannik Schuster (ankle)…
“Jannik and Kev have been on the grass this week and we’ll see what tomorrow brings in terms of how much they can do.
“They are different types of injuries. This week, we’ve had to navigate through a few issues. Those two are some of those who are making their way back from injury. Overall, we’re in a really good place.” – Keith Andrews
Sepp van den Berg, Nathan Collins and Mikkel Damsgaard could all be involved this weekend.
Antoni Milambo (knee) and Josh Dasilva (hamstring) are still out.
On Mamadou Sangare being dropped, Andrews said…
“It’s no real reflection on him, why he came out of the starting team. We have got a really good squad and really good options. Mamadou has been outstanding since he’s come in. I think everyone knows that with the accolades and plaudits he’s had about the start to his Premier League season and how he came in during pre-season and lit it up.
“He’s so dynamic in the way he plays and he’s such an infectious player. That hasn’t changed. Mamadou will play a lot more games and a lot more minutes for us. It’s difficult picking the team and the main message to the group is that it’s going to be a long season. We’ve got games coming where the squad will get really tested. If we want to achieve a really special season, we’re going to need everybody.” – Keith Andrews
ARSENAL
Piero Hincapie (ankle) and Christos Tzolis (hamstring) remain out, while Martin Zubimendi (unspecified) will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.
“Piero is evolving really well. Knowing his character and the way he pushes, I’m sure it’s not going to take long. But he will need probably another week or two.
“Zubi looks much better and we have another session tomorrow. After that, we will assess whether he’s available for Forest.
“[Christian Tzolis is] doing really well. Yesterday, he had another MRI scan. He’s progressing really well, another one that hopefully we can have back in a few weeks.” – Mikel Arteta
William Saliba (back) remains out.
“Next week, we have another MRI with him to see how the healing process is at the moment. Every sign so far has been very, very positive.” – Mikel Arteta
CHELSEA
Reece James has successfully undergone knee surgery after an injury in training.
He’s now set for a period of rehabilitation.
“We are all disappointed, especially for him. He wanted to have a good start after the international break. We don’t set timelines but he will be out for several weeks. It won’t be short. We will see after Christmas, time will tell.” – Xabi Alonso on Reece James
Emmanuel Emegha and Jamie Gittens (ankle) are also out.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Michael Carrick said the club have moved on quickly from Lisandro Martinez’s remarks about the Manchester United hierarchy.
The defender will be in the squad for Sunday’s trip to Leeds United.
Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo, who missed out in midweek, will be assessed.
Noussair Mazraoui (back), Patrick Dorgu (hamstring), Manuel Ugarte (knee) and Benjamin Sesko (calf) remain out.
“We’ll see on Luke and Kobbie.
“Ben’s [Sesko] still undergoing a few checks before we give any updates on timelines. We’re just trying to be clear on what that looks like, but when we know more we’ll let you know.” – Michael Carrick
EVERTON
Vitalii Mykolenko (leg) could return in Gameweek 7, while Jarrad Branthwaite (dead leg) faces a late fitness check.
Christian Norgaard meanwhile will probably be on the bench again.
“Jarrad [Branthwaite] had a little problem really early in the game, so we’ve been having a look at that in the week a little bit.
“Mykolenko is doing much better, he’s got a chance for the game and Christian [Norgaard] has still got a wee bit to go, but I think I could use him at different times if required. I don’t know I he’s ready to start the game yet.” – David Moyes
On Thierno Barry, Moyes said…
“We’re so pleased about the goals Thierno is scoring right now. Someone told me he’s missed the most big chances in the Premier League but some forwards would say he’s getting in the right place at the right time. As a manager you just want him to score. I’ve said many times this isn’t a team that is going to get loads of goals so when you get the opportunity you’d like him to be more clinical, to score more be a bit cleaner when he gets the chances.” – David Moyes
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Pascal Struijk (hamstring) will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s M23 derby.
“He gets another day of recovery and we will see how he is tomorrow and then we make a decision.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Pascal Stuijk
Fabian Hurzeler isn’t expecting anyone else back, although Mats Wieffer (knee) and Yankuba Minteh (leg) are getting close.
Kaoru Mitoma‘s (hamstring) recovery is less advanced, however.
“With Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer we could see quite a quick return.
“For Kaoru Mitoma, I hope he’s back for the international break, but we have to be more patient.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Femi Azeez (hamstring), Zadok Yohanna (unspecified), Evan Ferguson (ankle) and Stefan Tzimas (knee) remain out.
Jack Hinshelwood made his return from injury in Thursday’s win over Kauno Zalgiris.
ASTON VILLA
Ross Barkley and George Hemmings both face late tests ahead of Gameweek 7.
Ian Maatsen and Matteo Ruggeri remain out, as well as long-term absentee Amadou Onana.
LEEDS UNITED
Joe Rodon remains out, but Daniel James could return for Sunday’s home encounter with Manchester United.
“Progression. Joe will still miss this game on week seven so edging closer, good progress. Won’t be too long until team training but not yet.” – Daniel Farke
Mateo Joseph (knee) remains on the sidelines for the Whites.
FULHAM
Hugo Larsson (groin) is a doubt, but everyone else is available.
“We have a small problem with Hugo – his groin. We will check today, but I’m not sure if he will be okay for tomorrow.
“Everyone else is available.” – Alvaro Arbeloa
That presumably includes Tom Cairney (knee), who has missed the start of the season but returned to training over the international break, and Antonee Robinson, who was unavailable last week due to an ankle issue.
BOURNEMOUTH
Marco Rose faced the media on Thursday night.
He provided a positive injury update on Alex Scott (tendon).
“We did yesterday an MRI and the pictures looked really well. So, his progression and his healing is on a good way, better than we expected. It means not that he is ready for Sunderland or for next week, but we can progress his rehab training now. We can bring him back on the pitch to start and see how he responds, and we are not talking about six to eight weeks anymore. We are quite confident that we get him back maybe a little bit earlier.” – Marco Rose on Alex Scott
Justin Kluivert and Amine Adli returned to action against Sturm Graz on Thursday after their respective injuries.
Veljko Milosavljevic (knee), Julian Araujo (thigh) and Eli Junior Kroupi (foot) remain flagged.
SUNDERLAND
Wilson Isidor is a doubt, while Thomas Meunier is unavailable.
“Wilson got a minor injury, and we’ll assess day by day, we don’t know for Bournemouth.
“For Thomas, it’s a no, definitive at the minute. For the others, they’re training with the squad now, so they will be ready.
Brian Brobbey and Habib Diarra were both back on the bench in Europe on Thursday.
Romaine Mundle (knee) and Dan Ballard (hamstring) are still sidelined.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Pierre Sage was asked whether he expected any players to return on Sunday.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, Dean Henderson, Ben Chilwell and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all currently flagged.
“I don’t know because we will train after the press conference. That why we have to evaluate [Henderson’s] chance to come back in the team, and it’s the same for the other players. It’s not a way to say it, but for the moment I really don’t know.” – Pierre Sage
Chadi Riad (knee) is out, while Axel Disasi continues to serve a three-match ban.
IPSWICH TOWN
Gary O’Neil is hopeful he will have a fully fit squad in Gameweek 7, but did say they have a “couple of checks still to do”.
Abdul Fatawu returns from suspension.
