The pre-match press conferences for Gameweek 9 begin on Thursday, with nine Premier League managers facing the media – and set to provide us with some all-important team news.
We’ll bring you the key quotes and injury updates from all these pressers in the article below.
The managers of the other 11 top-flight clubs should be in front of the cameras on Friday.
KEY GAMEWEEK 9 TEAM NEWS FROM THURSDAY
- Manchester United: Bruno set to feature, Mainoo trains, Sesko latest
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Kostoulas fine, Wieffer + Minteh return, Struijk still out
- Bournemouth: Kroupi not ready to start, Scott could be back in Gameweek 10, no new injuries
- Leeds United: Elvedi fit, Stach still struggling, good week for Calvert-Lewin + Okafor, Rodon in training
- Nottingham Forest: Williams available, Ndoye a doubt, Dominguez could return
- Coventry City: Thomas a doubt but calf issue not as bad as first feared
- Crystal Palace: Sarr still out, Strand Larsen + Timber could return, Henderson available, Mateta fine
- Sunderland: Meunier + Danso available, Isidor could return, Mukiele doubt, only two definitely out
- Hull City: Mendy returns, McBurnie + Coyle fine, Butland trains, Hughes to play for under-21s
THURSDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
MANCHESTER UNITED
Bruno Fernandes could return to first-team contention this weekend after clear-the-air talks with Michael Carrick.
“It was a decision, as I said, for what we felt for for the game. That’s it. Bruno is fully committed to this football club, there’s absolutely no issues with that. We move forward, we make decisions as we go. We are looking forward to the game on Saturday now.” – Michael Carrick on benching Bruno Fernandes last weekend
“There’s no decision to be made on [whether Bruno retains the captaincy].
“He’s the captain of our football club, you know, and there’s different personalities, there’s different characteristics, there’s different ways to lead. It all comes down to what happens on the football pitch and whether you win or not, in the end. So, all the questions get asked, and I understand why you’re asking them now, but he cares deeply about this football club and about the team and he’s desperate to do well. So, we’ll lead that together.” – Michael Carrick on Bruno Fernandes
Kobbie Mainoo (unspecified) could feature, too, after a return to training.
“[In terms of] good news, Kobbie has done a little bit of training yesterday. So, he’s back in and around the group, so that’s obviously a positive.” – Michael Carrick
Luke Shaw (unspecified) and Marcus Rashford (hip) look set to miss out again, however, along with Patrick Dorgu (hamstring), Manuel Ugarte (knee) and Benjamin Sesko (calf).
“Yeah, unfortunately, Ben looks like he’s going to be out for a period of time. We’re still not clear on exactly how long but it’s going to be for a longer period of time.” – Michael Carrick, when asked if reports ruling Benjamin Sesko out till the New Year were accurate
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Fabian Hurzeler confirmed that Charalampos Kostoulas was merely rested for Brighton’s EFL Cup tie at the Etihad on Wednesday. The young Greek striker was not in the 20-man squad for that clash.
Yankuba Minteh (leg) and Mats Wieffer (knee) marked their comebacks with substitute appearances in the same game.
As for the rest, Chema Andres (hip) and Ferdi Kadioglu (hip) are expected to return in Gameweek 9. Both had to come off at Anfield last Sunday.
Pascal Struijk (hamstring), Zadok Yohanna (unspecified) and Stefan Tzimas (knee) are training again but this match looks set to come too soon.
“A positive was that Minteh and Mats Wieffer had their comeback yesterday.
“Ferdi, Chema, also Kostoulas, we rested yesterday… we are quite convinced that they will be an option for Saturday.
“Regarding Pascal Struijk, he won’t be an option for the weekend, but we are quite convinced that he will be back afterwards.
“And regarding the other players who were out for a long time, Zadok is back on the training pitch. Also, Stefanos Tzimas, after his ACL, is back on the training pitch, so therefore plenty of positives.
“Hopefully we can keep this availability now because this will be also crucial for the next period.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Femi Azeez (hamstring), Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring) and Evan Ferguson (ankle) also remain out.
Hurzeler was asked if any of the positive showings against Manchester City gave him a headache for the swift rematch.
“Yeah, we saw a lot of positives, plenty individual performances, so that’s something will be definitely take away. If we will change something in the starting XI, it also depends on if players are available or not, how they present themselves after the game yesterday, because one thing is very important: that we go there with a mentally and with a physically refreshed team because we know that we need intensity against City.” – Fabian Hurzeler
BOURNEMOUTH
Alex Scott (tendon) is back on the grass and set to train fully next week, potentially returning in Gameweek 10.
“He’s on the pitch, he works hard, he has no problems. He didn’t train with the team so far, but I’m quite sure that he’s going to do it the next couple of days and then we’re going to see: is it worth bringing him back before the international break in the squad or do we do it after the international break to be maybe more reasonable?
“It could be an option.” – Marco Rose on Alex Scott
Veljko Milosavljevic (knee) is also on the cusp of a competitive comeback and getting game-time with the under-21s.
Another Cherry who has returned recently, Eli Junior Kroupi, has enjoyed two cameos in league and cup this week. Marco Rose has confirmed that he’s not yet ready to start, however.
“We still need to build up his game time. I’m really happy to have him back, to have his quality, but he knows he has to be patient in this situation and not get in a difficult situation with another injury. We need to get him fit, in a good spot, with more and more match time, and in between, good sessions of training.
“We’re going to get him in a good spot the next couple of weeks and then he’s ready to start again. If he stays healthy, then I hope he’s going to go on a run.” – Marco Rose on Eli Junior Kroupi
Alex Toth (hamstring) and Julian Araujo (thigh) remain out.
Rose’s assertion that the Cherries have “no new injuries” should assuage any fears over Marcus Tavernier, who was taken off at half-time in the EFL Cup.
The Bournemouth boss also confirmed that Djorde Petrovic remained his “clear number one”.
LEEDS UNITED
Nico Elvedi has recovered from illness and is fit for Gameweek 9.
“Nico is way better. He is back in training and is available for this game.” – Daniel Farke on Nico Elvedi
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor, who were doubts for Gameweek 8 but who recovered to make the matchday squad at Sunderland, have also had a positive week.
“Also a good training week for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor. They had a normal training week. It seems, if nothing happens, that they are also fully available.” – Daniel Farke
Anton Stach (foot), who was also a concern for last Sunday’s match and who was reduced to a second-half cameo, is still “struggling”, however.
“Anton Stach is struggling still a bit with his foot injury. So, let’s see. I hope it will get better in the next 48 hours but it’s a question mark.” – Daniel Farke
Joe Rodon (hamstring) is partly back in team training, although there’s still some distance to go before he’s troubling the first team.
“Also some good news with Joe Rodon. First time, yesterday, part-integrated back in team training. It’s the next steps in his rehab. Right now, he just needs session after session after being out for so long but a way better situation that it was last week.
“Yes, that’s right [that it’s too soon for this weekend].” – Daniel Farke
Mateo Joseph (knee) remains out.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Neco Williams has trained all week despite coming off with an elbow injury last weekend.
“He trained from day number one. He fell on his nerve and he was numb to his fingers and he had a huge pain during the game.
“But everything is settled and he trained the entire week, so he is fine.” – Oliver Glasner on Neco Williams
Nicolás Domínguez (muscle) should train on Friday, meanwhile.
Dan Ndoye is now a doubt, however.
Nicolo Savona (knee) and Igor Jesus (calf) remain unavailable, too, despite the former’s return to the grass.
“Savona and Igor are still out.
“Nicolás Domínguez is progressing very well. He will train for the first time tomorrow with the team. Let’s see if the game is maybe a little bit too early, but he should be fine and ready for City [in Gameweek 10].
“There is a doubt with Dan Ndoye. He felt after the game, the entire week and also the last weeks since returning from Switzerland, always some hamstring fatigue. He’s a doubt. Let’s see if he can train tomorrow with the team and do well without taking any risk, [then] he is available. If not, he will miss the game, but then he should be okay for City.” – Oliver Glasner
COVENTRY CITY
Bobby Thomas‘ calf issue is not as serious as first feared. The centre-half is not ruled out of Gameweek 9, with further assessment to follow, but he remains doubtful.
“Yeah, he’s got a small calf issue. So, thankfully, our fears in the beginning when you don’t know… you’re worried about that lower region of the leg around the Achilles, but it’s a small calf problem. So, we’re not sure about this weekend. We’ll see. We’ve got another 48 hours at the moment, but yeah, the injury is hopefully not a terrible one and we’ll see.” – Frank Lampard on Bobby Thomas
And was Frank Lampard hinting here that Stephen Mfuni, who replaced Thomas last weekend, was going to start on Saturday?
“Yes, and he’s shown in the moments he’s played, and he’s shown himself around the building, that he’s a fantastic young player that can play in various positions. Nicely confident, nicely humble and a really talented boy. So, yeah, opportunity.” – Frank Lampard on whether this weekend could be a big opportunity for Stephen Mfuni to stake a claim as a first-team regular
Luke Woolfenden (knee), Aurele Amenda (calf), Josh Eccles (ankle) and Haji Wright (quad) are still out, although the latter is back on the grass.
Lampard kept an unchanged XI last time out but may change things around this time.
“The last time, I kept the same starting line-up because I liked the performance against Tottenham and I certainly stand by that. I didn’t like the Fulham performance so much, hence we lost a game, but this is the Premier League for us. If we’re not quite at it, we’ll find it hard to win games.” – Frank Lampard
CRYSTAL PALACE
Ismaila Sarr (groin) remains out, along with Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf) and Chadi Riad (knee).
“At the moment, he’s not able to play.” – Pierre Sage on Ismaila Sarr
In better news, Dean Henderson (ankle) marked his comeback from injury with a start in Wednesday’s EFL Cup win over Fulham.
As a further boost, Quinten Timber (hamstring) and Jorgen Strand Larsen (ankle) could return on Saturday.
“We will see today. He will train with the group today. He’s trained individually for the moment, but today he will be ready to be with us.” – Pierre Sage on Jorgen Strand Larsen
“Tomorrow for him [he will return] and [he will have] maybe have some minutes with the team on Saturday.” – Pierre Sage on Quinten Timber
Jean-Philippe Mateta was omitted from the squad to face Fulham but was merely rested.
“He’s ready to play, and we managed him yesterday, because he played two times 60 [minutes] in seven days, and normally he has to play only two times 30 [minutes].
“That’s why we left him out of the team yesterday, to be ready, to play and to start against Tottenham.” – Pierre Sage on Jean-Philippe Mateta
There are no fresh worries from midweek.
SUNDERLAND
Thomas Meunier returned from a groin injury in Wednesday’s EFL Cup win over Brentford.
Kevin Danso is also back after serving a one-match ban in Gameweek 8.
Wilson Isidor (knock) “should” be the next of Regis Le Bris’ squad out of the physio room this weekend.
That leaves only medium-term absentees Dan Ballard (hamstring) and Romaine Mundle (knee) definitely on the sidelines.
“[Isidor] should be available. At the minute, except Ballard and Romaine, all our players are more or less available. We have to manage minor injuries. It’s a question of three days, four days, depending on the players.” – Regis Le Bris
Le Bris did later say, in the written section of his presser, that Nordi Mukiele (throat) was one of the “minor” injuries.
“It’s a minor and short-term injury, but we’ll see for Saturday.” – Regis Le Bris on Nordi Mukiele, via the Sunderland Echo
HULL CITY
There’s positive team news from Humberside.
“Everybody, they are ready. We are in good shape. We have, I think, now 27 players in the squad, which is good.
“It’s great but it’s also about match fitness, it’s about form, it’s about performance. I think we played a good game against Brentford. We have some things to improve. We played 35-40 minutes, a very good game. Second half, if we can extend these good minutes from the first half, we could be even much better.” – Sergej Jakirovic
Nobel Mendy (groin) returns, while Oli McBurnie (ribs) and Lewie Coyle (hamstring) have shrugged off minor issues from last weekend.
“Good, yes. Everything good.” – Sergej Jakirovic on Oli McBurnie
“Hamstring but nothing serious. He’s ready. He’s trained this week. If he has problems, we have Cuffy there.” – Sergej Jakirovic on Lewie Coyle
“Mendy, back in training. Everything is good. So, he will be in the roster for this game.” – Sergej Jakirovic on Nobel Mendy
Even Jack Butland (shoulder) is back in training way ahead of schedule.
“Jack is in training sessions with the group, which is excellent news.
“Yes, [he could be involved]. We will see, we will decide tomorrow.” – Sergej Jakirovic on Jack Butland
Charlie Hughes (groin) is on the grass, too, but will first get game-time with the under-21s before marking his first-team comeback.
“Charlie is good. He trained yesterday with us. A miracle! He is good, no reaction, so everything is good.
“When he will be more ready, he will [play] for the under-21 team.
“We will see [how long it takes before his first-team comeback]. We are going day by day.” – Sergej Jakirovic on Charlie Hughes
Matt Targett (ankle) and Ilyas Ansah (back) remain on the sidelines.
