After midweek EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League action, there’s plenty of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team news to clarify for Gameweek 6.
Eight pre-match press conferences take place on Thursday. Fabian Hurzeler and Erik ten Hag are among the managers facing the media.
As ever, we’ll be bringing you the latest key quotes and injury updates in the ‘live’ article below.
We expect the other dozen top-flight managers to hold press conferences on Friday. For the latest on those dozen sides, check out our early team news summary.
GAMEWEEK 6 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY INJURY UPDATES
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Pedro set to miss out, Gruda could make the squad
- Manchester United: Four still out, squad likely to remain unchanged
- Everton: Branthwaite closing in on comeback, Mykolenko available
- Nottingham Forest: Gibbs-White ban, team news “basically the same”
- West Ham United: Alvarez suspended, still doubt over Fullkrug
- Fulham: No team news updates from Silva, Cuenca appears to be out
- Leicester City: Vestergaard still out, “bumps and bruises” from midweek
- Southampton: Kamaldeen + Smallbone remain out, Stephens still banned
GAMEWEEK 6 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
Times in BST
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Joao Pedro is set to miss the trip to Chelsea with the injury he sustained as a substitute last weekend.
Sightings of the Brazilian on crutches, as well as his no-show in training, weren’t red herrings, as Fabian Hurzeler confirmed his likely Gameweek 6 absence in Thursday’s presser.
“Joao had some problems after the game, he still has some problems. You have to go week to week with him but I don’t think that he will be an option for the weekend.
“We have to keep looking so I’m not sure how long he will be out. I think that Joao is a good healer and I’m convinced that he will be back soon but of course, also with this player we can’t take any risk. We all know that he’s a player who can make the difference for us but of course, we also have several other good options. Now we try to replace him as good as we can and give him like a good rehab, and I’m sure he won’t be out for so long – hopefully.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Elsewhere, Brajan Gruda (unknown injury) could make his first matchday appearance since his summer move.
Yasin Ayari is also back in contention after illness.
“Yasin Ayari after his illness he will be back on the pitch but the others, no.
“Brajan he was out for for five, six weeks. I think that he will be back in a squad very soon, maybe already at the weekend. We will see how fast he gets reintegrated in the team, how fast he adapts to the intensity of the training and then he might be an option for Saturday.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Matt O’Riley (ankle) is the only long-term injury for Brighton at present.
James Milner (hamstring) and year-long absentee Solly March (knee) are nearing comebacks.
“With Solly, it’s unbelievable how good he is adapting, we were all surprised in which shape he is. He looks very sharp and we have to make now the next decision: what is the next step for him? Is it maybe playing an under-21 game? But it is also important which under-21 game he’s playing and what is the best for him. Also where he feels comfortable because he has to feel comfortable after this long injury that he will make the next right step. It’s important to make it step by step and not to do two or three steps in one time.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Solly March
MANCHESTER UNITED
Leny Yoro (foot), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Victor Lindelof (toe) and Luke Shaw (calf) will remain out for Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag said on Tuesday that Shaw would “probably” be back before the October international break.
Facing the media again on Thursday, the United boss said that his squad is likely to remain unchanged from the midweek draw with FC Twente.
“No, I don’t think [there are any injuries from midweek]. It will be the same squad as [Wednesday].” – Erik ten Hag
EVERTON
Everton’s absentee list looks set to be further diminished for Gameweek 6.
Jarrad Branthwaite (groin) and Nathan Patterson (hamstring) both featured for the under-21s on Sunday in a bid to build up match fitness, with Branthwaite the furthest ahead in his recovery.
Vitaly Mykolenko has recovered from illness, too.
Idrissa Gana Gueye meanwhile only missed the draw with Leicester City due to personal reasons and is back on Merseyside, albeit short of training.
Seamus Coleman (ankle), Youssef Chermiti (foot) and Armando Broja (foot) remain out for the Toffees.
“Jarrad is definitely in contention. He’s come through a game last week and done a lot of background work, as well as just the game, so he’s looking stronger and he feels stronger.
“Certainly Jarrad is in front of the curve compared to Patto. Patto has had a much longer period out and quite a serious injury – he’s doing very well at the moment but that’s a longer recovery period.
“Gana, unfortunately, lost his father so he was away in Senegal, so he’s had quite a period – seven days -without training and is only just back in.
“Myko is well again, so that’s good.
“Seamus is a bit longer, Broja is a bit longer and Youssef is a bit longer as well.” – Sean Dyche
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team news update was brief this week.
“No [fresh concerns], basically the same.” – Nuno Espirito Santo
Nottingham Forest have Danilo (ankle) and Ibrahima Sangare (hamstring) out long term.
Morgan Gibbs-White is suspended for one match, too, following his Gameweek 5 red card.
Willy Boly (calf) was said to be “really close” to recovery ahead of last week’s trip to Brighton, so it remains to be seen if Nuno’s quote above also includes Boly’s unavailability.
WEST HAM UNITED
The Hammers will be missing Edson Alvarez after his dismissal for two bookable offences in Wednesday’s cup defeat at Anfield.
There is also still some doubt about Niclas Fullkrug (Achilles/calf). The German, who has been out since the September international break, was back in training this week.
But after missing the EFL Cup clash with Liverpool, Fullkrug remains a big question mark for Gameweek 6.
“Fullkrug is not available until now so let’s see what is going to happen today and tomorrow.
“I don’t know. We were thinking that he was available this week but unfortunately, he was not. So, we have to wait until this afternoon and tomorrow. At the moment he is out.” – Julen Lopetegui
In terms of fresh worries, Lopetegui said it was too early to assess anyone from the previous night’s match.
“I don’t know, right now we don’t train. In two hours we are going to see again between us and we are going to evaluate how they are.” – Julen Lopetegui on if there are any new concerns from midweek
FULHAM
We’ve not heard any team news updates from Marco Silva as yet.
However, Jorge Cuenca posted an image on social media of what appears to be a swollen ankle.
Fulham only have one other concern that we know about – but even he may be fit.
Carlos Vinicius (calf) was ruled out for 8-10 days nearly a fortnight ago, so he could be back this Saturday.
LEICESTER CITY
Patson Daka (ankle) and Jakub Stolarczyk (ankle) remain on the sidelines for Leicester.
Steve Cooper meanwhile revealed after Tuesday’s penalty shootout victory over Walsall that Jannik Vestergaard (ankle) was currently injured – and the Leicester boss confirmed in Thursday’s presser that the defender hasn’t recovered for the trip to Arsenal.
Cooper otherwise just reported “bumps and bruises” from the midweek EFL Cup tie.
SOUTHAMPTON
Gavin Bazunu (Achilles) is a long-term absentee for Saints, who have Jack Stephens suspended for the third and final time.
The trip to Bournemouth also comes too soon for Will Smallbone (hamstring) and Kamaldeen Sulemana (ankle).
“We have no one coming back that we didn’t expect. Kamaldeen is still a bit away from being with us [Will] Is still out for another week or two. Maybe on the other side of the international break or maybe the Arsenal game, but this week, no.” – Russell Martin
