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 FPL Gameweek 23.

As usual, feel free to give myself (FPL Connect) a tweet if you find there are any problems with this article.

All the best for Gameweek 23 everyone – let’s do this.

Arsenal

Hector Bellerin

Tight right hamstring. Being assessed ahead of Sheffield United (h).



Calum Chambers

Left knee. Ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee during Chelsea (h) on 29 December. Successful surgery completed. Rehabilitation process expected to take between six to nine months.



Sead Kolasinac

Left thigh strain. Being assessed ahead of next week, but will not be available for Sheffield United (h).



Kieran Tierney

Right shoulder. Dislocated right shoulder during West Ham Utd (a) on December 9. Successful surgery completed. Rehabilitation process expected to take around three months, aiming to return to full training in March.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Suspended. Following his red card at Crystal Palace, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will miss the next three matches.

Source: https://www.arsenal.com

Sheffield United

Chris Wilder has confirmed that he has no injury concerns ahead of the trip to the Emirates.

Aston Villa

Dean Smith has mentioned that Pepe Reina could make his debut for Aston Villa this weekend against Brighton:

“Yeah, possibly. He’s settled in fine straight away. With Tom Heaton getting injured, I think everybody knew at the start of the season I was looking for a goalkeeper with Premier League experience. Tom has been a big plus for us this season already, unfortunately he got injured. We then only had two recognized senior goalkeepers. It was important we moved quickly and we’re very fortunate to get someone so vastly experienced who has got leadership qualities within the dressing room as well. We’re really pleased to have Pepe (Reina) in the building. He’s vastly experienced, a leader, he will be a voice in the dressing room that we need as well.”

The manager also confirmed that Jonathan Kodija has not trained with the team this week and will not be considered for selection on Saturday.

Apart from long-term absentees Wesley, Tom Heaton, John McGinn and Jed Steer, he has a fully fit squad to choose from.

Brighton

Graham Potter has confirmed that Aaron Mooy is back in training and available for selection after missing last weekend’s game with Everton. Dan Burn and Jose Izquierdo are the only two players ruled out through injury.

“Shane Duffy missed the start of the week, as did Adam Webster and Ali Jahanbakhsh with little bumps and bruises, but they’ll all be available and have trained recently – as will Aaron Mooy. Dan Burn and Jose Izquierdo are the only two missing.”

Southampton

Ralph Hasenhüttl will have a full squad to pick from ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The only absentee would be full-back Yan Valery, who has been suffering from an ongoing illness, but is expected to rejoin training at the end of the month.

“No injuries, Yan Valery is still ill, from his viral infection. It looks good, much better now. At the end of January he’ll be able to step into the session again. The rest are fit.”

West Ham

David Moyes has confirmed that Lukasz Fabianksi‘s injury isn’t long term and expects him back in the first team within a few weeks:

“It’s really good news, I think you can see the form, when Lukasz has played in goal, has been very good. I think that, when he’s in, he’s been excellent – last season and this season. It was great news to find out it will only be a few weeks.”

The manager will have to pick better Darren Randolph, David Martin or Roberto.

“Darren’s been doing all the work he’s had to do and hopefully he’ll be ready for the weekend. I’ve got the choice between three goalkeepers at the moment and he’s certainly in that.”

The manager also added that Michail Antonio, Felipe Anderson and Arthur Masuaku are doubts for this weekend.

“At the moment, Michail has not trained with us. He joined a little bit this morning. I’m hoping we can get him back, but I couldn’t be sure that it will be this weekend. We’ve got an injury to Felipe Anderson as well which might mean that he might make it or he might not, but we’ve got a doubt at the moment. He got a bad fall with ten minutes to go in the game against Sheffield United, so we’re assessing that at the moment. It’s his ribs because he fell heavily from that tackle. We’re getting him checked. Also, Arthur has got a little bit of fluid in his knee, which we’ve drained, and we’re seeing how that is as well.”

Watford

New signing, Ignacio Pussetto is in contention to play some part against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday after impressing Nigel Pearson with his attitude and application during his first few days at the club:

“He’s fitted in very well. He’s a very likeable young man. He speaks decent English and I’ve had a good chat with him. He’s settled in very quickly and gives us options in wide areas. We’ve seen during recent games we’ve played with a lot of pace and variance in wide areas and he gives us another option there.”

The Head Coach also confirmed that Will Hughes, Kiko Femenía and Danny Welbeck have returned to training.

“Will (Hughes) has done some training, he has been with us today, just modified, so won’t be in contention for the weekend. Kiko (Femenia) has made really good progress and has trained with us to a certain extent. He’s not done the entirety of the session but is making really good progress. Again, I don’t see him being involved this weekend.”

“Danny Welbeck continues to train very well, but it’s important for him that he gets a good base level of fitness that puts him in a good place. But he looks really good and we are delighted with his progress. It’s important to make sure we don’t rush him back now. It’s great to have him back amongst the squad and training exceptionally well.”

Tom Cleverley remains sidelined with a tear to his left Achilles and likely to return by the beginning of next month. Daryl Janmaat and Sebastian Prödl are still out with knee injuries.

Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he will give Marcus Rashford time before deciding whether he’ll be fit to face Liverpool on Sunday.

“We’re going to do some more checks and treatment with him today. Yesterday of course was just a recovery day anyway and some treatment for him. I haven’t seen him this morning, but I’m not going to hold my breath. I would probably think that he wouldn’t be ready, but let’s see. There’s still 48 hours, more than that, so let’s see.”

Marcos Rojo, Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay are out of contention, while Axel Tuanzebe is on the road to recovery after a month out.

Luke Shaw is also a doubt, after missing out on the Wolves replay. The left-back suffered a tight hamstring during the warm-up against Norwich City on Saturday.

Eric Bailly, who is yet to feature for the first team this season after undergoing knee surgery in summer, played in a behind-closed-doors game on Tuesday, as he continues his recovery.

Newcastle United

Javier Manquillo, DeAndre Yedlin, Ki Sung-yueng, Paul Dummett, Dwight Gayle and Yoshinori Muto all remain sidelined for the Magpies.

Allan Saint-Maximin‘s return to fitness is the only positive, with the winger now in line to feature for Newcastle for the first time since early December:

“He’s trained for the last two weeks, and we hope he’s going to be OK for tomorrow. He’s got that absolute pace – that raw pace and power and that natural ability to go past someone. He is one where he can, in a flash, turn the game for you. And we’ve seen it many times with him – when he’s been in the team, the results speak for themselves. We’ve missed him over the past four or five weeks, but then even the biggest teams miss their best players. It’s good to have him back.”

Bournemouth

Eddie Howe will be without Joshua King and Jack Stacey for Bournemouth’s clash with Norwich City tomorrow while Nathan Ake, who returned from injury against the Hornets, had come through the game unscathed and would be in contention to face the Canaries.

Aaron Ramsdale returned to light training this week after missing the Watford defeat due to a minor hamstring injury. Lloyd Kelly also trained this week but Junior Stanislas (calf) and Arnaut Danjuma (foot) remain sidelined.

Tottenham Hotspur

Hugo Lloris (elbow) has returned to training with the first team squad but Mourinho doesn’t expect him to be back in the first XI until February:

“I told [you] one month ago, I said February. So the normal thing is February. If you ask me late February or early February, at this moment I go more for early. Things are going well. He’s getting his confidence back, he’s training so I would say he’s one of our new players in the January transfer window.”

Jose Mourinho confirms Christian Eriksen will feature for Spurs against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday, despite ongoing speculation over his future amid interest from Inter Milan.

Mourinho also says loan signing Gedson Fernandes will be involved this weekend.

Burnley

Jay Rodriguez is over his illness while Robbie Brady is back training following a calf injury.

Chris Wood has has a broken nose re-set and is available for this weekend, but Johann Berg Gudmundsson will not be available as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

Sean Dyche confirms that Ashley Barnes has undergone his hernia repair procedure this morning. No timescale on his absence has been given however.

Chelsea

Nothing from Frank Lampard on N’Golo Kante but the Chelsea boss confirmed last weekend that the Frenchman’s absence was precautionary due to an “awareness in the hamstring.” He is expected to return to the matchday squad.

Lampard reports that Christian Pulisic is likely to be injured up to the winter break but should be fit after it which suggest a return to action in GW26.

Ruben Lotfus-Cheek has been training with the Academy sides and is making making good progress.

“He hopes he can [work] with the main squad after the break.”

Wolves

Nuno Espirito Santo confirms Ruben Vinagre will be out “for some time” due to the hamstring injury he sustained at the end of the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

He also states that Adama Traore is “okay” despite hobbling off on Wednesday evening.

Crystal Palace

The Palace manager has revealed that while Max Meyer has not recovered since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s suspension-earning challenge last Saturday, right-back Joel Ward has returned.

“It [team news] doesn’t change that much. Obviously we were hoping to recover Max Meyer but that’s not been possible. So we’re one further player down. Joel Ward who’s been missing for a long period, he returns. Scott Dann of course returned before the last game [Arsenal]. There are still a lot of players from the intended first-team down. The bench will be made up largely of the Under-23 squad [v Man City].”

Palace had six current first-team players sidelined through injury in their recent draw with Arsenal and captain Luka Milivojevic was suspended after collecting a red card against Derby County.

Norwich City

Huge boost for the Canaries as Daniel Farke confirms Teemu Pukki, Josip Drmic and Ben Godfrey are all available.

Plus, the two new signings – Ondrej Duda and Lukas Rupp – are also ready to go.

Everton

Yerry Mina doubtful for Saturday and Alex Iwobi is confirm out confirms Ancelotti:

“We have a little problem with Yerry this week, he was not able to train. We have to see if he will be available against West Ham. Iwobi will not be ready for the match. I think next week he will be able to train with us.”

Everton will be without Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson for their match at West Ham United on Saturday.

Carlo Ancelotti confirmed he will be unable to use Richarlison at the London Stadium due to a twisted knee while Sigurdsson is sidelined with a groin problem.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin trained with the squad for the first time today following injury.

Leicester City

Wilfried N’Didi has missed City’s last two fixtures against Aston Villa and Southampton, and will again sit out this weekend’s trip to Burnley.

However, Rodgers has been pleased with his recovery, while he revealed the Club with check on the availability of skipper Wes Morgan prior to Sunday’s match.

“Wes has been out, and he’s been back on training field, so we’ll assess him tomorrow to see if he’s okay for the weekend. Wilfred Ndidi has made great progress, he’s out on training pitch working, which is great news for us, but he won’t be available for the weekend. We’ll see after that.”

Liverpool

Fabinho and Joel Matip are on course to be available for Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Manchester United on Sunday. The pair have successfully come through training in the past two days after recovering from respective ankle and knee injuries.

Naby Keita, Dejan Lovren and James Milner are ruled out of the game, however, Jürgen Klopp confirmed at his pre-match press conference.

“Yes, it looks like Joel and Fabinho [will be back]. They trained completely normally yesterday and the day before. So that means they are likely to be in the squad. The other three not, but they are getting closer and closer. Dejan, I think, will train 100 per cent from Monday on. With the other two [Keita and Milner], I don’t know exactly. I cannot rush it so when somebody tells me they are ready, I take them back in training.”

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola expects Leroy Sane to shortly return to full training for Manchester City next week. The German has been out of action since he damaged knee ligaments in the Community Shield win over Liverpool in August.

Guardiola was asked whether he had any positive news about Sane and replied:

“Definitely. Leroy is still not training with us but everything going really really well.”

Aymeric Laporte returned to training with the full squad last week and the defender is expected to feature soon for City.

No other new concerns.