With the Gameweek 6 deadline looming, our first team news round-up of the week summarises the stand-out headlines from Thursday’s press conferences.
In all honesty, there wasn’t a great deal to report: only one of the ‘big six’ managers have held their press conference so far, with Friday set to be a busier day when it comes to injury updates.
Mason Mount (ankle) is one player we’ll be seeking clarification on, following his withdrawal in Chelsea’s defeat to Valencia on Tuesday.
It has been reported that the mid-price FPL midfielder has not suffered ligament damage although we are yet to hear official word from the Blues.
Three Premier League sides are in UEFA Europa League action this evening, meanwhile, so we’ll be keeping a keen eye on the teamsheets and post-match interviews for clues as to how Manchester United, Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers will line up on Sunday.
Daniel James (knock), Paul Pogba (ankle) and Anthony Martial (thigh) look set to miss United’s game with Astana but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hopefully bring us up to speed on whether that trio will be back in contention for the trip to West Ham.
Mauricio Pochettino held his pre-game presser earlier today but there wasn’t much of use to come out it, with the Tottenham Hotspur boss defending Christian Eriksen‘s performance in the 2-2 draw with Olympiacos:
I am happy with the performance. Maybe yesterday wasn’t his best game like the team. I am happy with the commitment of Christian, he run a lot and was very committed with the team, the effort but I think I am not concerned about him.
Talking of Dele Alli, who made his first start of 2019/20, Pochettino added:
Dele is a different situation than Christian. He got injured from the beginning of the season. I think it was his first start of the season. He needs time to recover his best feeling. I am happy with him, too.
Spurs had earlier reported that Giovani Lo Celso (hip) remains sidelined, while Ryan Sessegnon‘s (hamstring) progress is being monitored as he continues rehabilitation.
The Lilywhites take on Leicester City in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off, with Brendan Rodgers revealing no fitness concerns and reassuring us on Ben Chilwell‘s condition:
He’s okay. He just had a bit of recovery inside. He worked inside, but he’s fine. Otherwise, we’ve got all players all fit and well.
Eddie Howe didn’t report any new problems in his early-morning presser, saying:
We’re pretty much in the same place, added by the returns of Simon Francis and Lloyd Kelly [in a game against Basingstoke] in the week. Obviously, different stages of their comebacks.
No further details were forthcoming in the broadcast section of Howe’s presser but BBC Solent Sport reported that Kelly is a possibility for Gameweek 6 and that Francis has an outside chance of featuring in the Carabao Cup next Wednesday.
Opposite number Ralph Hasenhuttl said of Southampton’s injury situation:
Nathan [Redmond] could train this week with the team. This is the good message, how far he is. If he really can play tomorrow, I haven’t decided so far.
Moussa [Djenepo] is out for tomorrow. After a few sessions this week he felt a little bit more his muscle, so we don’t want to take this risk, so we keep him out tomorrow.
I don’t know if I can grab Nathan for this position, I haven’t decided so far. We have one session tomorrow in the morning and then I’ll decide.
Martin Montoya has recovered from the illness that saw him miss Gameweek 5 but Leandro Trossard (groin), Leon Balogun (muscle) and Alireza Jahanbakhsh (unspecified) remain sidelined for the trip to Newcastle, while Bernardo (knock) only has an “outside chance” of featuring according to manager Graham Potter.
Ahead of Sheffield United’s trip to Everton, Billy Sharp begins a three-match suspension while Muhamed Besic is ineligible to face his parent club.
Boss Chris Wilder said of Callum Robinson, meanwhile:
Callum Robinson missed out on Saturday. He had a few issues coming back from international duty but he’s raring to go, he’s trained really well.
There was a further heartening comment from Wilder on John Lundstram, meanwhile, with the Blades’ head coach saying:
He’s been one of our outstanding performers in the first five games of the season.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson has recovered from the calf problem that has forced him to miss Burnley’s last two league matches but Sean Dyche said on Thursday that he would still have to make a late decision on the Icelandic winger:
Johann we’ll make a decision on because he’s fit but he hasn’t trained a lot.
Asked if there would be changes to his starting XI after the impact that his substitutes made at Brighton and following his post-match comments at the Amex, Dyche added:
This is a competitive group. Any given weekend, the margins are tight for who we pick. Last week was slightly different because it was a tactical change. We’re looking for everyone to be ready and I think they are.
Dyche added:
Because we had a tricky second half last week it’s almost like, I mentioned about change and everyone thinks you’re going to change.
It doesn’t mean I’m going to change it. Historically I don’t change the team that often, as everyone knows, but, when I think it’s right to change it, I will do.
Watford will be without Craig Cathcart (thigh) and Isaac Success (groin) for the match against Manchester City on Saturday.
Cathcart is expected to return to training next week.
Predicted line-ups and more detailed information can be found in the Team News tab, which is being refreshed this afternoon.
You can view a video round-up or listen to the podcast summary of Gameweek 6’s press conferences so far below:
4 years, 7 months agoBest 4.6m defender? Soyuncu, Diop or Tomori?
Getting into that Chelsea defence (although I know they've been leaking goals) is more appealing than that of Leicester's. Would be good to get some input from Chelsea fans on him. I gather he is more nailed in a 3 at the back system?