There are no Premier League matches this weekend – but the pre-match press conferences for the FA Cup fourth round are taking place.
So, there are some key injury updates to digest ahead of next Tuesday’s Gameweek 22 deadline.
This article is a ‘live’ one so will be updated as and when the pressers happen on Thursday afternoon.
We’ll also round up what the managers of Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest said when they faced reporters on Wednesday.
THURSDAY’S TEAM NEWS UPDATES
- Manchester City: Haaland “close” but not ready to face Spurs
- Liverpool: A “chance” that Alexander-Arnold could feature, Salah latest
- Tottenham Hotspur: Maddison returns to training, Kulusevski fit again
- Chelsea: Nkunku + Gusto could be back for Gameweek 22
- Aston Villa: Torres not in training, Digne close to recovery
- Everton: Gomes joins injury list, Doucoure latest
- Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ait-Nouri back from AFCON, Sarabia expected to be fit
- Sheffield United: Baldock a couple of weeks away
- Bournemouth: Senesi returns, Semenyo on his way back from AFCON
- Nottingham Forest: No change to team news, Gibbs-White still out
THURSDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
MANCHESTER CITY
Erling Haaland (foot) is “close” to a comeback but won’t feature against Tottenham Hotspur in Friday’s cup tie.
“He’s on the verge of coming back. Tomorrow still is not ready but is close. Training camp was good, trained some sessions. The last two days here, he trained, but is not perfect and we wait a little bit more.” – Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland
In the embargoed section of Thursday’s presser, Guardiola said that the Norwegian would “hopefully… play some minutes” against Burnley in Gameweek 22.
“He feels good, now he needs time to take the rhythm and [we will] start to give him minutes when he will be fit.
“In Abu Dhabi and here in the last week to 10 last days, he doesn’t feel anything.
“When he came back after two-to-three sessions he felt a little bit of disturbance, that’s why we were a little bit cautious.
“And now he feels good. We give him three or four more days, hopefully against Burnley, he can play some minutes, first minutes, we will see.” – Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland
Manuel Akanji (unspecified) also remains out but Ederson (knock) and John Stones (ankle) are back in contention.
Again in the embargoed section of the press conference, Guardiola said Kevin De Bruyne was ready to start – something he had also mentioned before Gameweek 21.
“He is ready [to start]. He was ready at Newcastle as well, but always we have the processes. Like with Erling when he comes back, I don’t think it’s for 90 minutes.
“Of course, it’s really, really soon to play from the beginning. But the most important thing is he trained really, really well in Abu Dhabi.
“He has to continue to work on the pitch and off the pitch, what he has to do to prevent more [injuries].” – Pep Guardiola on Kevin De Bruyne
LIVERPOOL
Trent Alexander-Arnold (knee) has not yet trained fully with his teammates but Jurgen Klopp didn’t rule out the prospect of the defender doing so on Friday and then being in contention for the weekend’s cup clash with Norwich City.
Andrew Robertson (shoulder), who returned as an unused substitute on Wednesday, and Dominik Szoboszlai (hamstring) could also be involved against the Canaries.
“There’s a chance for all of them but we will really have to see. It’s touch and go.
“Obviously, Robbo is physically ready. I think it was good to have him in the matchday squad. He’s in the completely normal team training schedule, like Dom from tomorrow on. He had yesterday’s session, today he has the day off, then from tomorrow completely normal. That means he is ready for minutes.
“Trent, is it Norwich or the game after? We have to see. He was not even in parts of team training yet, so if he can be in tomorrow, then I have to make a decision there.
“It would be absolutely very helpful if they all could be involved! But we have to see.” – Jurgen Klopp
Kostas Tsimikas (collarbone), Stefan Bajcetic (calf) and Thiago Alcantara (hip) are targeting February returns, while Ben Doak (knee) and Joel Matip (knee) are longer-term absentees.
Wataru Endo is also away at the Asian Cup with Japan.
As for Mohamed Salah, Klopp echoed much of what he had said previously about the Egyptian international.
“We have exactly the same target as Egypt: make Mo as fit as quickly as possible. That’s all we want.
“All parties agreed that it makes sense he does the rehab here. That’s what we are doing now. We have a season to play so we want him fit. But if he’s fit earlier, as long as Egypt is still in the tournament, he will go back. That’s clear. Then it’s a win-win. Then he’s coming back after that, after the tournament or whenever.” – Jurgen Klopp on Mohamed Salah
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
James Maddison (ankle) is available for selection after training all of this week.
Ange Postecoglou indeed said that Maddison was “ready to start”.
Dejan Kulusevski has also recovered from illness, while Ben Davies (hamstring) and Dane Scarlett (unspecified) are in the early stages of rejoining training and Ryan Sessegnon will soon follow suit.
That only leaves Giovani Lo Celso (hamstring), Manor Solomon (knee), Alejo Veliz (knee) and Alfie Whiteman (ankle) on the injury list.
Son Heung-min, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are still away on international duty, however.
“From the last game, everyone is ok.
“[Dejan Kulusevski] has recovered from his illness.
“The boys had four days off last week which I think was good for them.
“Madders has been training with us, had a full training week. He’s in a good place. Ben [Davies] and Dane Scarlett have just started back with the group as well. We’re getting the numbers back up.
“Gio [Lo Celso], Manor [Solomon] and Alejo [Veliz] are the three that are still sort of away from the group.” – Ange Postecoglou
“He’s available. Ready to start, not ready to start… when someone is available, I assume they’re ready to start. Whether you do or not depends on what I see with everyone else tomorrow, I usually make those decisions on game day.” – Ange Postecoglou on James Maddison
CHELSEA
There was fairly positive news on Christopher Nkunku (hip) and Malo Gusto (muscle) on Thursday.
Prior to Mauricio Pochettino’s press conference, a Chelsea medical bulletin said the pair had “joined team training for the reconditioning phase”.
The Blues boss then said that, while Nkunku and Gusto won’t face Aston Villa in Friday’s FA Cup tie, they could be available in Gameweek 22.
“[Nkunku and Gusto] could be available for Liverpool on Wednesday, could be. We need to see how they evolve their condition in the next few days. We are positive, but we’ll see. Not for tomorrow.” – Mauricio Pochettino
Trevoh Chalobah (hamstring) has rejoined training with his teammates and looks set to come back into playing contention soon.
Romeo Lavia (thigh), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Reece James (hamstring), Marc Cucurella (knee), Robert Sanchez (knee) and Wesley Fofana (knee) remain on the sidelines, while Nicolas Jackson is on international duty.
Ben Chilwell has come off the injury list in January but fitness remains an ongoing concern.
“He’s an experienced player and the challenge was from the beginning of pre-season to build his fitness and of course improve not only his offensive face, but his defensive face. That was the challenge for us, to help him be a more complete player.
“He is an important player, of course, if he is fit and can cope with the 90 minutes. But on Tuesday he could not cope because after 10 or 15 minutes of the second half he asked to come off because he needs to build his fitness.
“Now we have doubts to start with him tomorrow because we are assessing him, if he can cope with another game after three days. It is a massive decision because what we want is to build his confidence and his fitness, to be consistent enough to play the rest of the season.
“That is why we are working really hard with the medical staff and the performance analysts to make the best decision. If he cannot start tomorrow he is going to be on the bench and we will see if he can play and help the team in the second half.” – Mauricio Pochettino on Ben Chilwell
ASTON VILLA
The Pau Torres (ankle) injury saga drags on as Unai Emery confirmed on Thursday that the centre-half had stepped back from training once again.
Bertrand Traore (international duty), Tyrone Mings (knee) and Emi Buendia (knee) also remain out.
Lucas Digne (hamstring) is a week or so away from returning, while Jacob Ramsey (hamstring) could be back for Gameweek 22 or 23.
“Jhon Duran is now injured, but I am happy with him. The last action against Everton he was injured. For the next weeks, he is not going to be available.
“Lucas Digne and Pau Torres are still injured. Lucas is close to starting with the group, maybe in one week. Pau is progressing well, he starting training with us and ready to play, but he stopped again and now we are being careful.
“Ramsey too, it is a hamstring at the beginning we were thinking three weeks, but he could be back next week if he progresses well. Maybe Tuesday, but for tomorrow maybe not.” – Unai Emery
EVERTON
André Gomes has joined Everton’s injury list and is likely to sit out the FA Cup fourth-round clash with Luton Town while assessment continues.
Seamus Coleman (hamstring), Abdoulaye Doucoure (hamstring) and Ashley Young (muscle) are also set to miss Saturday’s tie at Goodison Park.
Young did feature for the under-21s on Wednesday, at least.
Dele Alli (groin) and Idrissa Gueye (international duty) remain out, too.
“Unfortunately, we’ve lost André, so we’re waiting on news on how long he’ll be out – but very unlikely for this weekend.
“Seamus is probably not [available] for this weekend. Youngy got through 75 minutes last night which was good news but probably not for the weekend. Then, obviously, Doucs is a bit longer-term.” – Sean Dyche
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Wolves are almost injury-free heading into their cup tie against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
Pablo Sarabia is the only minor concern, having picked up a knock on his calf. Even then, Gary O’Neil expects the Spanish winger to be fit.
Wolves are further boosted by the return of Rayan Ait-Nouri following Algeria’s early elimination from the African Cup of Nations.
“Rayan will be back and in the matchday squad.
“Pablo has a knock on his calf and hasn’t trained yet, but I envisage he’ll be fit. Just monitoring him.
“The rest of the lads are all fine.” – Gary O’Neil
Wanderers do have five other players out of first-team contention for reasons other than injury.
Joao Gomes serves the final game of a three-match ban, while the ostracised Jonny Otto is set for a move to Greek side PAOK.
Boubacar Traore, Hwang Hee-chan and Justin Hubner are also still on international duty.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
The Sheffield United team news is mostly positive, with Chris Basham (leg) and John Egan (leg) the only longer-term absentees through injury.
George Baldock isn’t seriously injured but will remain out for another two weeks, while Rhian Brewster is banned.
Tom Davies (thigh) and Max Lowe (muscle) are nearing returns, while Yasser Larouci and Anis Ben Slimane are on their way back from the Africa Cup of Nations after their countries were eliminated.
“Tom Davies is pretty close, whether he’ll be available for the Palace game I don’t know.
“Rhys Norrington–Davies is available for the weekend, as well.
“Max Lowe could be available for the Palace game or the Villa game.
“So, there’s three or four of those boys. We’ve only really got two long-term ones, which are Bash and John, and the others are working their way back diligently with the medical staff.
“George is about a couple of weeks away so he’s possibly the furthest away from the other group of players that we talked about.” – Chris Wilder
BOURNEMOUTH
Max Aarons (hamstring), Adam Smith (hamstring), Tyler Adams (hamstring) and Ryan Fredericks (calf) are on the injury list ahead of Thursday’s FA Cup tie against Swansea City.
Dango Ouattara is still away on international duty, too.
Milos Kerkez (foot) could be back, however, after a return to training this week.
Marcos Senesi also returns from suspension, while Antoine Semenyo is on his way back from the Africa Cup of Nations after Ghana’s early elimination.
“Max is obviously out, he has a muscle injury and he’ll be out for some time. We will not recover Adam [Smith], so we will be thin.
“The only one who I think will try to train today, and knowing him he’ll be in the squad, is Milos. He’s really close and I think he’s the only one with the chance to get involved. The rest are still the same.
“It’s obviously bad news for [Semenyo that Ghana were eliminated} because he wanted to go through to the next round and they had a really good team. He’s travelling right now and he will arrive tomorrow morning, so it’s going to be difficult for him, but I will try and talk to him and maybe he can be on the bench. It will be difficult because he will spent the night travelling.” – Andoni Iraola
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
There’s little change on the team news front at Forest.
Anthony Elanga (thigh), Morgan Gibbs-White (abdomen), Felipe (hamstring), Taiwo Awoniyi (groin) and Divock Origi (muscle) look set to remain on the sidelines for Friday’s FA Cup tie at Bristol City.
“Nothing has changed unfortunately.
“The scenario is the same, there is no hiding that we are short on offensive options because the players that are out are offensive players. We will see, we will decide tomorrow on the team and game plan.” – Nuno Espirito Santo
Gibbs-White and Awoniyi are the only ones with declared recovery timeframes.
The former was said to be out for a fortnight on January 17, making his availability in Gameweek 22 a tight call.
Awoniyi meanwhile is out on the grass but only doing individual training, so unlikely to feature until February.
“Taiwo is improving. He is already on the pitch on the individual sessions, stronger on the fitness aspect trying to elevate his levels. But I still think a couple of weeks before he joins the group.” – Nuno Espirito Santo
Forest are also the worst-hit Premier League side when it comes to players away on international duty: Serge Aurier, Ibrahim Sangaré, Willy Boly, Ola Aina, Moussa Niakhaté and Cheikhou Kouyaté are all representing their nations in the Ivory Coast at present.
Nuno Tavares is eligible to face Bristol City but as a loanee from Arsenal, can’t face his parent club in Gameweek 22.
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