We’ve got the all-important Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team news to bring you as the pre-match press conferences for Gameweek 3 get underway.
Eight Premier League bosses fulfil their media duties on Thursday, including Fabian Hurzeler, Marco Silva and Julen Lopetegui.
And we’ll be bringing you the latest key quotes and injury updates in the ‘live’ article below. Quotes will be gradually added as and when they become available.
We expect the other 12 top-flight managers look set to hold press conferences on Friday.
GAMEWEEK 3 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY INJURY UPDATES
GAMEWEEK 3 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Bart Verbruggen (unspecified), Evan Ferguson (ankle) and Pervis Estupinan (ankle) all returned to the Brighton matchday squad in midweek. That trio hadn’t kicked a ball since 2023/24, missing all of Albion’s pre-season friendlies.
Don’t expect to see De Zerbi-style rotation between the sticks now that Verbruggen is back – but who is number one is not yet known.
“For me, it’s clear that we will have a number one in this season. There will be clear roles for them and I will be very, very straight with this communication. I will be very honest with them. That’s important for me that they know their roles in the team, not only in a goalkeeper position [but] also in the other positions. I’m very happy to have both of them.
“So, Jason made some really good games for us in the pre-season, and then in the Amex against Manchester he had a great impact on the squad and on the pitch. That’s why I’m really happy to have him. As well, Bart shows especially in the Euros how good he is, the potential he has. I think he can become one of the best goalkeepers in the world if he keeps going. If he keeps improving together with my goalkeeper coaches, then he has a great future.” – Fabian Hurzeler on his goalkeepers
“I think when he is in his best shape, he’s one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. He is full of energy, he is full of power and now we have to reintegrate him as quickly as possible because he had a long injury. After long injuries, to come back is not easy. He missed a lot of content, a lot of tactical things also in the pre-season, so it’s important now to get for him a mix between video sessions and pitch sessions. That’s why I think that he will be a great player for us again but we shouldn’t put pressure on him because after a long injury, the players need time to adapt.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Pervis Estupinan
The recovery of those players was offset by the loss of new boy Matt O’Riley, whose debut lasted just nine minutes.
The midfielder now faces ankle surgery and a spell on the sidelines.
“As we expected, it’s a bad injury. He needs surgery on his ankle. I can’t say how long we expect him to be out. We have to look at how the rehab will go.
“It’s a tough one for us but we try to support him the best way we can, we try to get him as fast as possible on the pitch. Let’s hope he will be back soon.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Fellow summer arrivals Brajan Gruda and Mats Wieffer were absent against the League One side. Wieffer also missed out in Gameweek 2 with a minor issue but should be fit.
Gruda hasn’t featured at all since joining the south-coast club. He was already carrying a small injury when he signed.
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