Premier League Previews: Latest Team News, Injury Updates, and Suspensions...

Round-Up of Premier League Team News

Arsenal 

Mikel Arteta is optimistic that both Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz will be ready for Saturday Night Football against Bournemouth, live on Sky Sports.

Aston Villa  

Unai Emery's squad is nearing full strength, with Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings both set to travel to West London.

Bournemouth  

Andoni Iraola has a full squad available for tomorrow's clash at the Vitality Stadium. Milos Kerkez, who was a doubt, is in contention along with Tyler Adams, who has returned to training.

Brentford  

Yoane Wissa is set to undergo a fitness test on the ankle injury that kept him out of the last three league matches.

Brighton  

Defender Jan Paul van Hecke is back in the lineup after missing two games due to a groin injury.

Chelsea  

Enzo Maresca will have Reece James ready to face Liverpool on Super Sunday, but Ben Chilwell is a doubt due to illness. Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana will be serving suspensions.

Crystal Palace  

Oliver Glasner is hopeful that both Daniel Munoz and Adam Wharton will be fit for the trip to the City Ground, while Cheick Doucoure is expected to miss out.

Everton  

The Toffees will be without James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam due to back and foot injuries, respectively.

Fulham  

Joachim Andersen is available despite having withdrawn from the Denmark squad, while Sasa Lukic and Timothy Castagne are sidelined with injuries.

Ipswich  

Ipswich will be without defender Axel Tuanzebe against Everton, as he sustained a deep cut to his thumb while washing dishes.

Leicester  

Former Southampton defender Jannik Vestergaard could make his return for Leicester for the first time in almost two months after featuring for Denmark this week.

Liverpool  

Arne Slot has concerns over the fitness of Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, and Kostas Tsimikas ahead of the match.

Man City  

Kevin De Bruyne will miss out, and Nathan Ake is also unlikely to feature but may travel with the squad. Manuel Akanji will need to be assessed before the game.

Man Utd  

Noussair Mazraoui has recovered from minor heart surgery and is available to face Brentford.

Newcastle  

Alexander Isak could make his return after a month on the sidelines, while Kieran Trippier is ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

Nottingham Forest  

Nuno Espirito Santo begins his three-match touchline ban, and there’s no update on the injured Morgan Gibbs-White.

Southampton  

Kamaldeen Sulemana may make his season debut, with Will Smallbone also in contention to return against Leicester.

Tottenham  

Tottenham's captain Heung-min Son is available for the match against West Ham, and Richarlison has returned to full training.

West Ham  

Julen Lopetegui's only injury concern is Niclas Fullkrug, who is sidelined with an ongoing Achilles issue.

Wolves  

Gary O'Neil will be without Hwang Hee-Chan for the game against Manchester City after the striker suffered an ankle injury on international duty.

Major Team News

Wharton Fit for Forest Clash, but Surgery Possible, Says Glasner

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that Adam Wharton is fit for Monday night’s trip to Nottingham Forest, although he may require surgery to address a long-standing issue.

Wharton was rested during the international break instead of competing with the England Under-21s, and Glasner stated that his fitness will be monitored closely throughout the season.

“He is ready to play on Monday, but we need to manage him carefully,” Glasner said. “He consulted another specialist, so it's been an ongoing situation.”

“He trained well this week and is in good shape, which is encouraging,” he added.

Glasner acknowledged the challenges ahead: “It doesn’t seem like his injury will simply go away, and we’re searching for the right opportunity for him to rest. I reviewed the schedule, and unfortunately, I didn’t find a suitable break. Typically, we have a break at Christmas, but that’s also our busiest time.”

“We’ll take it day by day. As long as he can manage the pain, we’ll maintain the current approach, but if his condition worsens, he may need a longer break or even surgery.”

Glasner also indicated that Cheick Doucoure is nearing a return to action.

Nuno 'Surprised' by Three-Game Touchline Ban

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo expressed his surprise at receiving a three-game touchline ban and a £55,000 fine from the Football Association following an incident against Brighton in September.

The sanction was imposed after Nuno was shown a red card for his reaction to midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, who received a one-match suspension and a £20,000 fine from an independent regulatory commission for his late dismissal in the 2-2 draw at the Amex Stadium.

Both Nuno and Gibbs-White will miss Monday's match against Crystal Palace at the City Ground.

This latest development follows Nottingham Forest being fined £750,000 for a social media post directed at VAR Stuart Attwell after a 1-1 draw with Luton in March. 

“I’m surprised. It’s a significant sanction, but there’s nothing we can do about it now,” Nuno said at a press conference. “My focus is on moving forward and ensuring the team is ready—that’s what matters most.”

“It’s tough, but we must remain prepared as a coaching staff. We’ll be in constant contact through phones and radios.”

“What’s important is that we prepare the team well, and that’s what we’re focused on. We can’t let this disturb us; we need to ignore the outside noise and concentrate on our task at hand. We want to perform better at home in front of our fans on Monday.”

“Let’s not dwell on the financial implications; it’s the three-game ban that’s significant. I accept it and will deal with it.”

Silva Thrilled to See Fulham Forward Jimenez Back in Form

Fulham manager Marco Silva has expressed his confidence that Raul Jimenez will regain his scoring touch, and he is pleased to see the forward thriving again.

Jimenez suffered a fractured skull in November 2020 while playing for his former club Wolves. After a stellar 2019-20 season, where he netted 17 Premier League goals, the Mexican forward struggled to find his form post-injury before joining Fulham last summer.

Now, the 33-year-old has scored three goals in his first seven league appearances for the Cottagers. 

“It’s fantastic to see him performing at such a high level, especially after not being called up for the national team in the last five months. He must make an impact,” Silva told reporters.

“Everyone can see how important it is to have Raul back on track.”

“We, as a club, always believed in him and trusted that he could return to his best after such a severe injury—without a doubt one of the toughest moments of his life and career.”

“It was a challenge for him to regain his confidence and start scoring again. When he found the net, we saw a different Jimenez emerge.”

Lukic Ruled Out with Shoulder Injury

Fulham will be without Sasa Lukic for their upcoming match against Aston Villa, as the Serbian midfielder sustained a shoulder injury during the recent international break.

“He’s going to be out, which brings mixed feelings for us following the international period,” Marco Silva stated. 

“While some players managed to maintain their momentum and perform well for their national teams, which is vital for us, others like Sasa will be sidelined for more than just one or two games. Timothy Castagne is also dealing with a hamstring issue, so both will be unavailable. Additionally, Jorge Cuenca and Carlos Vinicius will also miss out.”

O’Neil Acknowledges Wolves’ Poor Start as a ‘Disaster’

Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has admitted that the team’s start to the season “looks like a disaster” as they face a challenging situation after taking just one point from their opening seven games.

With a tough fixture against Manchester City on Sunday, O’Neil is keen to emphasize the context behind their struggles, citing a difficult schedule, injuries, and the loss of key players during the summer.

However, he recognizes that a turnaround is essential and remains confident in his ability to steer Wolves clear of danger.

“From a points perspective, it has been very disappointing. With one point after seven games, it certainly appears disastrous if you don’t examine the reasons behind it,” he said. “But if you delve into the situation, you’ll find there’s enough potential to turn this around.”

“I have complete faith in myself and the players that together we can demonstrate we are capable of competing at this level.”

“The longer this situation persists, the more urgent it becomes, but I’m comfortable with that challenge.”

“I’ve faced similar situations before, and I’m confident I can guide the group through this phase and effect change. I understand that one point from seven matches isn’t acceptable, and we need to show we’re better than that.”

“That tipping point is coming soon. We can’t keep citing tough fixtures and the loss of important players. Now we must act and get things moving.”

Emery Offers Fitness Update Ahead of Fulham Clash

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has provided a positive fitness update on his squad:

“They are improving. Both Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings are available and will travel with us to Fulham.

“John McGinn is training normally this week and feeling good. Ezri Konsa and Jadon Philogene are also in good shape. It’s the first time this year that we have nearly everyone available.

“Amadou Onana is doing well too. Overall, it's encouraging news.”

Postecoglou Aims to Shake Off ‘Spursy’ Tag Through Success

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has challenged his players to confront the ‘Spursy’ label and demonstrate its inaccuracy.

Following a disappointing 2-0 lead surrendered in a defeat to Brighton before the international break—marking the 10th time the club has lost after leading by two goals or more in the Premier League—Postecoglou is determined to change the narrative. 

With London rivals West Ham set to visit on Saturday, the match stirs memories of a 3-3 draw in 2020 when Spurs let a three-goal lead slip under Jose Mourinho. While Postecoglou deemed the criticism “irrelevant,” he acknowledged that the only way to shift perceptions is through success on the pitch.

“You mention it’s happened 10 times, but it hasn’t happened under my watch, so give me a break. Let me reach that point first before the labels come out,” Postecoglou said.

“People often look for opportunities to exploit weaknesses. If things aren’t going well, we need to focus on making sure they do.”

“There’s only one way to change this perception. If we want to redefine how we are viewed, it won’t be through asking others to refrain from those labels; it will be achieved by proving ourselves to be a relentless, successful team.”

Lopetegui Shifts Focus from Ipswich Win to Tottenham Clash

Julen Lopetegui has quickly moved on from West Ham’s recent victory over Ipswich, setting his sights on Saturday’s showdown with Tottenham.

The Hammers secured a convincing 4-1 win against Ipswich earlier this month at London Stadium, marking Lopetegui’s second Premier League win since taking the helm in the summer and helping to address their early-season struggles.

“These matches are behind us,” Lopetegui stated. “The present is what matters now, and we need to be prepared for the next challenge.”

“While we are pleased with the victory, our full focus is on what lies ahead, which will be a tough test against, in my opinion, one of the best teams in the Premier League.”

Saints Boss Martin Invites Critics to Discuss Team Strategy

Southampton manager Russell Martin has extended an invitation to his critics to engage in a conversation about his team, rather than relying on what he describes as “uneducated guesses” regarding his approach.

The Saints face Leicester on Saturday, a team they were promoted with from the Championship last season after managing just one point from their first seven Premier League matches.

This disappointing start has sparked speculation about Martin's future, with both pundits and fans questioning his methods.

In a recent press conference, Southampton manager Russell Martin expressed his thoughts on the criticism directed at his team. “It’s fascinating how someone can watch just six minutes of highlights and form a credible opinion about your team or label you as stubborn,” he said.

“I would always welcome those individuals to sit down and discuss our strategies. If they want to offer an informed opinion, it’s better than making assumptions—sometimes uneducated ones.”

“I can’t control how we’re perceived, but my view of our team is that they’re showing real bravery and attempting bold plays. I believe that this courage will ultimately pay off.”

“If it doesn’t, I’ll at least know we remained true to ourselves, which I anticipated would be the biggest challenge this season given the scrutiny surrounding our style of play, my background as a young English coach, and the questions that come with it. The rest will take care of itself.”

Ten Hag: "We Need to Start Scoring"

In his latest press conference, Erik ten Hag emphasized the need for improvement in goal-scoring. 

“The players have been performing well, and we had a successful season last year—perhaps that’s been overlooked. When we encounter challenges, we sometimes have to field teams that lack the right balance due to player availability. Overall, the squad is showing good form. 

“But we must start scoring—that’s the most crucial aspect. We need to enhance our finishing. We’re getting into the final third and creating promising opportunities, but now we must take that vital step: converting those chances into goals.”

Hwang Out for a Couple of Weeks

Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil provided an update on Hwang Hee-chan, stating: "He has sustained damage to the ligament on the inside of his ankle. He'll be sidelined for a couple to a few weeks."

“All other players are in the same condition as they were before the international break.”

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O'Neil: "We Have What It Takes to Turn This Around"

Addressing his team’s poor performance, Gary O'Neil acknowledged, "From a points perspective, it’s been very disappointing. I’ll be the first to critique our performances."

With just one point after seven games, he admitted, "If you don’t analyze the situation and the reasons behind it, it looks like a disaster. We have two very tough matches coming up in the next ten days."

"However, if you take the time to understand our circumstances and fixtures, you'll see there’s enough potential for us to turn this around."

"I have complete faith in myself and the players to prove we can compete at this level. I’m confident in my ability to guide the group through this challenging time and effect positive change."

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