In the latest of our weekly series, we’ll be bringing you the important news from every Premier League press conference that impacts your Fantasy Premier League team selection for Gameweek 22
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All the best for Gameweek 22 everyone – lets do this!
West Ham:
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Pellegrini reports no news on the injury front, which means that Marko Arnautovic will be fine for this weekend despite going off early in the FA Cup tie on the weekend:
“Injured players are exactly the same as last week, so we don’t have any news about that!”
Samir Nasri got 60 minutes under his belt on the weekend and after being asked about his inclusion this weekend, Pellegrini responded:
“I think it was very useful for him to play 60 minutes in the FA Cup. He has been working hard for around 40 days and he has demonstrated he is able to be involved against Arsenal, at least in the squad list.”
West Ham confirm Fabian Balbuena has been ruled out for the next six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on the meniscus in his left knee.
Javier Hernandez (back and hamstring) won’t recover in time for this weekend.
Huddersfield:
Wagner reports the team news, including updates on Tommy Smith, Hamid Sabiri, Danny Williams and Aaron Mooy:
“Tommy Smith was back in training since yesterday without issues. Hamid today joined the group part-time. After his X-Ray, he could join up full-time. Aaron Mooy and Danny Williams are working with our Medical and Fitness Departments.”
Christopher Schindler returns to the matchday squad after completing his one-match ban in the FA Cup.
Man Utd:
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirms Paul Pogba will be fit to face Spurs:
“He [Pogba] looked okay towards the end [of the training camp], so he’ll be fit. He did have some problems but he came through the last couple of sessions well, so he should be okay.”
The caretaker manager also delivered an update on Marcos Rojo, who has been absent since the 2-1 defeat to Valencia on 12 December:
“He’s gone back to Argentina for a while with his injury,” confirmed Solskjaer, before indicating that the date of the defender’s return was uncertain:
“How long is a piece of rope? For him, it’s mentally important for him to get away and come back fresh again.”
Fulham:
Ranieri confirms Alfie Mawson remains sidelined:
“He has started rehabilitation. We will see day-by-day.”
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is available again after missing the previous 5-matches while Neeskens Kebano could shake off the knock he suffered in the FA Cup.
Fulham could cut Fosu-Mensah’s loan agreement short:
“It’s much better for him to find solution because here it is a bit closed.”
Arsenal:
Medical department report the team news with six players returning to full training:
Brighton:
Hughton reports the team news:
“Bernardo will miss the game – and apart from Izquierdo and Jahanbakhsh, there are no other fresh injuries.
Matt Ryan remains away with Australia competing in the Asian Cup.
Burnley:
Sean Dyche confirms that Matt Lowton and Phil Bardsley could be available for the visit of Fulham this weekend.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson faces a late fitness test. Stephen Ward and Steven Defour returned to the matchday squad in the FA Cup and could be available for this weekend’s clash with Fulham.
Southampton:
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Hasenhüttl has confirmed he will be without strikers Danny Ings, Michael Obafemi and Ryan Bertrand for the trip to Leciester, but Bertrand has returned to training and so has Sam Gallagher:
“Not for the Leicester game, it’s far too early. He [Bertrand] is training fit, but not match fit. It will take time.
Michael Obafemi is going to take longer than we first thought, it’s a tendon injury. That isn’t good for us because we could use his speed.
Danny Ings can be an option for the Everton game, I hope so. Sam Gallagher is also back on the pitch, he’s had two sessions now. He looks good, which is good news.”
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg remains suspended.
Watford:
Andre Gray and Christian Kabasele both returned to full training with the team this afternoon, meaning Sebastian Prödl (knee) is the only player out injured:
“We have 26 players ready. This is good news for us.”
Gracia must now decide if a couple of days’ training is enough for the pair to be considered for the game at Selhurst Park:
“It’s a little bit soon for them to play in one or two days, but we’ll see. We have more options and I think it will be better if we continue, keep training and we’ll see their evolution.”
Cardiff:
Warnock reports the overall state of team news:
“We’ve got a few players with knocks. [But] most of them trained yesterday, so we’ll have to wait and see. Nothing concrete on that.”
Kenneth Zohore is working hard but won’t be available this weekend, but might make the bench next weekend confirms Warnock:
“He starts full-time training next week. His eyes are bright and it’s nice to see. He’s worked really hard to get back. It was disappointing to lose him on the Man United. He’ll be struggling to get back for next weekend. He might get on the bench.”
Kadeem Harris will be monitored after he was taken to hospital last weekend to have a shoulder injury checked. Danny Ward also suffered a knock to the cheek bone during the cup defeat to Gillingham.
Bournemouth:
Frontmen Callum Wilson, Joshua King and Ryan Fraser are likely to face late checks before Howe names his team to face the Toffees at Goodison Park:
“We have a couple of knocks, a few players nursing injury and illness so will see who’s fit. Callum was missing last week, Josh was ill and Ryan was limping at the end of the game so we have a few to assess and check. Whether they are fit and available we will wait and see.”
Loan signing Nathaniel Clyne could be in contention to make his Premier League debut for the club after impressing in the FA Cup defeat by Brighton.
Howe confirmed club captain Simon Francis had gone under the knife earlier this week after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Tottenham on Boxing Day and reported that it was successful and that he will begin with his recovery work now.
Liverpool:
Jürgen Klopp has confirmed Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson will return to training ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Jordan Henderson, meanwhile, will participate in Friday’s training workout at Melwood however, the Reds will be without Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren, while Joe Gomez isn’t yet ready to return as he continues his rehabilitation from a lower leg fracture:
“Joel trained yesterday for the first time with the team, which is already really good but we have to see. We have to decide it day by day how he is doing, I am not 100 per cent sure. He feels good and that’s good for us, of course.
Hendo will train today for the first time, we see what that then means exactly. Adam [is] out, Dejan [is] out and Joe, of course, [is] out. All are improving obviously, that’s clear. I don’t know if a few are available and for a few I know they are not available, so that’s the situation.”
When asked further for a timeline on Dejan Lovren, Klopp said:
“I don’t know. It is serious otherwise he would play, but it is not that serious. It is a muscle thing and I would expect him back after maybe Crystal Palace, I am not sure. We have to see.”
Spurs:
Eric Dier (appendicitis) has started to join in with some team training sessions and remains unavailable. Lucas Moura (knee) is being assessed ahead of Sunday’s match.
Victor Wanyama (knee) is progressing too late stages of rehabilitation.
Jan Vertonghen (thigh) and Mousa Dembele (ankle) are training with the group although the pair lack match fitness. Pochettino will make a late decision on whether either will be included in the matchday squad.
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Heung-Min Son will be available for the game this weekend against Man Utd but will be leaving for the Asia Cup after that, so will be unavailable from GW23 onwards.
Chelsea:
Maurizio Sarri reports that Ruben Loftus-Cheek is unavailable for tomorrow’s game but Alvaro Morata is back in training and may be able to play.
Sarri also said Hudson-Odoi was looking tired in training this week after two games in three days. He wants to take another look at him today.
Sky sources understands the Chelsea boss is keen to sign Gonzalo Higuain this month but the Italian insists he doesn’t know if Chelsea will make a bid for the Argentina international, who is currently on loan at AC Milan from Juventus:
“As you know very well I am not involved in the market. I spoke with the club and they know my opinion. In my opinion we need two players. It depends on the club’s decision but I don’t know anything about the market, day by day or minute by minute.”
Wolves:
Nuno Espirito Santo reports no new injury concerns ahead of the game against Man City.
Diogo Jota and Adama Traore (both hamstring) have shaken off niggles in recent weeks while Romain Saiss (knee) is now also available.
Everton:
Silva reports no new injuries for his side.
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Silva stated that playing both Leighton Baines and Lucas Digne in an advanced role may be a ‘solution’:
“We did maybe just five minutes when we played against Wolves. We started with Leighton and Lucas came in to play on the left wing. Let’s see what decision I make.”
Crystal Palace:
Hodgson reports that Christian Benteke is back in full training and is contention for the weekend:
“He’s short of match practice and sharpness that you get from playing games. It would be a risk to some extent but there’s no reason to write him off.”
Pape Souare has had surgery after dislocating his shoulder in the FA Cup last weekend. The defender is targeting a return to play in March.
Leicester:
Claude Puel reports the team news and only Jonny Evans is out:
“Jonny Evans is not available; he has a broken toe. We have no other problems.”
Man City:
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Sergio Agüero missed the FA Cup tie down to an illness and Vincent Kompany has a knock:
“Agüero was sick right after the game against Liverpool. He is a little bit better, and today was his first training session. Vinnie is recovering. He’s getting better. The rest are fit.”
Benjamain Mendy (knee) could return before the end of the month.
Newcastle:
Rafa reports a mixed bag on the injury news front with Federico Fernandez, Cieran Clark and Florian Lejeune all available but Jonjo Shelvey, Paul Dummett and Karl Darlow are ruled out:
“Jonjo, Dummett and Darlow are not available. Fede (Fernández) and Clark are both available. Lejeune, who came in against Blackburn, is fine. So, we have some good news and some bad news.”
Nothing was said about Mo Diame and he hasn’t been spotted on the training pitches but Rafa is hopeful of a return for him against Man United:
“It is in the hip and the groin. He has had this problem before and we hope it will not be serious. Normally he is fine in a couple of days.”
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