15:16

Nuno Espirito Santo has revealed that Diogo Jota will miss Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Manchester United because of the injury he suffered during Wednesday’s defeat at Watford. He said the club do not yet know the extent of the damage to the players thigh but it underlined the need for them to use this month’s transfer window to reinforce.

“Unfortunately Diogo is also not available. In the last game, the red card [challenge] from [Christian] Kabasele made, with no intention at all, strong impact so he’s not available. He’s being assessed, he’s already done the MRI. It’s not good, not good. We have to wait for all the blood that the impact caused to go down so the doctor can evaluate him better. After that we will have a proper diagnosis.”



“We have a small squad and every time a player is not an option it causes you problems. But to problems we must find solutions and that’s that we are looking for now. We need players [this month]. Now I think is the right moment to start working on that. The transfer window gives you the chance to bring things that can improve you. That’s what I’m looking at. [We need to make] the right decisions that can improve us so that we can continue to compete well.”

Despite their need for players, including at centreback following the injury to Wily Boly, Nuno said the Spanish defender Jesus Vallejo, who joined on loan from Real Madrid last summer, will probably go back to his parent club this month.

“Jesus Vallejo is probably going because he wants to play. He’s a young and talented player who we brought here with high expectations but it didn’t work out. So it’s time for him to go and find a club so he can keep on progressing because the talent is there. We don’t have much time so we have to move forward ... The reality is he had moments that he played, moments that he performed well and some moments that he didn’t perform so well. That’s the case of Vallejo. Clearly it didn’t work out.”