Premier League news LIVE – pre-match press conference updates

Thomas Frank has also reflected on the importance of Archie Gray, he said: “I like what I see from Archie. I think he’s a very talented young player with a big potential. And I think we’ve seen glimpses of that now. I think I said a few times before the Monaco game he was really on a high and really ready to kick on and unfortunately got the calf injury.

“Now I think he’s back in a place where he’s really ready to compete again. I like what I’ve seen from him. Everything from the Burnley game in the beginning of the season to those bits in the Fulham game I liked from him. I think there was definitely very good bits in the Brentford game and also in the Slavia game.

He described the best attributes of the young Englishman: “He’s very good on the ball. I like he plays with his head up so he can play short. He can drive the ball.

“The pass to Pedro for the penalty against Slavia was an excellent pass. Perfectly weighted. Playing it behind. Great capacity to cover the pitch. Good pressing skills, and I think he’s young but he has a very good character. I think he could be a leader in the future.”

When asked about Spurs scoring more goals Frank said: “I don’t think we have taken the handbrake off.”

“Football is so beautifully simple sometimes but also so complicated. I think a lot about the relationship, the team being a little bit in sync, the right players being sharp and in form. All of that at the same time helps.

“There are three players I would like to mention. Richy [Richarlison] is in maybe not his best form ever but a very good place. Also physically Mo Kudus is, after a great start to the season, a little dip and a minor injury, back in full energy and looking sharp. Xavi [Simons] is performing at a good top level. Those three together give the offensive part of the game much more.”

Unai Emery says Emi Martinez and Pau Torres will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s game against West Ham.

READ MORE: Aston Villa injury news: Duo doubts for West Ham match

When asked whether recent form might inspire a recall for Leeds striker Calvert-Lewin to the England squad, Leeds manager Daniel Farke responded: “Not a topic for me, that is a question for Thomas [Tuchel]. If he wants to ask me I will give him my honest opinion and what I think about Dominic.

“You all know how much I trust him and how much I value him. He has done it before, 11 caps for England, and his goal record is good. For him it is just important he stays fit, confident and in a good rhythm and it will take care of itself.

“It always depends on how you deliver and I think it’s important for a player, a few good weeks is not enough or what he is capable of. He has proven in the past but if he can prove this during the season over more weeks there is no limit.”

David Moyes gave injury news ahead of clash with Chelsea this weekend.

He said: “Jarrad Branthwaite and Merlin Rohl are back on the grass and doing some work. Merlin is obviously much further on in his recovery than Jarrad, but they are both back on the grass now.

“Hopefully there is a chance we get them both back soon. With the two lads [Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye] going off to Afcon, getting Merlin back – at least – would be a big help for us.”

Nuno Espirito Santo has remained vague on injury details ahead of West Ham match against Villa this weekend. When asked about injury news he said: “There are players to assess. I cannot give away anymore than that.”

He added that Oliver Scales is back in training and will be an option to play for the departing Aaron Wan-Bisakka and El Hadji Malick Diouf who are leaving for the African cup of nations.

Rob Edwards has reflected after the fan protests and continued poor form, he said:

“I understand their frustration, it is difficult, they’ve not seen their team win for six months so I completely get it. I’m always trying to be as honest as possible so I completely understand.

“I’m looking at it more from the football side and it was painful for me in the second half.

“A lot of it was our own mistakes, our own doing and we sort of sped their game up for them.

“There’s basic things we have to do that other teams do better than us. I think it was a little bit of an eye-opener for a few [of the players]. The reaction from the guys has been good.”

Frank confirms Solanke is working on the grass individually. He goes on to say: “As I said with Dom because it is an injury that he picked up in July, it’s dragged on for a while. When he is training fully, I’ll have news.

“I am happy to answer all these questions but just a little bored of them.”

Thomas Frank speaks ahead of their game against Nottingham on Sunday (14:00).

Amorim has backed the positive impact of Mason Mount:

“He’s a very smart player, really technical, to be technical is not just having fun with the ball. It’s how to receive it, he can balance our team quite well.”

Ready for a tough game against Bournemouth, Amorim praised his opponents:

“It’s a top team, top manager with special players. I don’t look to the results, I look at the way they face every opponent, they press really strong, they are direct in the game.”

“That gives us a lot of options to prepare for the game. I expect a really tough game but we need to win, especially at home,” he added

United face the possible departures of Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo ahead of their fixture on Monday night, but Amorim has said they are still in training:

“We are still in conversations with the national teams, the game’s on Monday, they are here, training and we are trying to prepare all scenarios.”

“It’s frustrating but at the same time nobody knows who is going to play, so it’s a good thing. We have players to cope with everything,” he added

Le Bris has mentioned his ambition going into this game, but admits his side are the underdogs of the clash:

“Newcastle are strong as well, they are well established in the Premier League, good experience, they are great opponents so we’ll be underdogs, challengers but we will play with desire and ambition”

Regis Le Bris says Habib Diarra is close to returning from injury, ahead of potentially going to AFCON with Senegal next week.

READ MORE: Sunderland star Diarra close to returning from injury

Amorim has started his press conference with updates on Harry Maguire, Benjamin de Ligt and Benjamin Sesko:

“Harry Maguire is out, Matthijs de Ligt is out, Ben [Sesko] we have to see. We have to see if he’s available, he has some food poisoning but let’s wait, we have two training sessions still.”

Following on from games against heavyweights Liverpool and then Manchester City:

“We have another exciting challenge and I think if we look back to [the start of] the season, we are a newly promoted side and now we have 23 points.”

“Now we are playing Newcastle at home. It is a privilege,” he added

Le Bris knows that the Stadium of Light will be rocking against Newcastle, and hopes his team can use that to their advantage: “The players have used this energy really well.. and I hope it will be the case again,” he said.

“At home, we have this advantage, and we have to take the most of it. So it will be important as usual. We play with this energy, and this extra energy can help the project.”

“We had good experiences at the Stadium of Light this season. It was loud, and I expect that it will be louder against Newcastle. So far, the players use this energy really well, to raise the momentum, to push, to change the dynamic of the game, what was needed. So I hope will be the case once again.

“The players are aware of the situation. But when you are on the pitch and you feel this energy, I can say that for us and for the opponent, the effect is massive. Very massive.”

“We know this game is really big, and really important,” admitted Le Bris but he also conceded he’s trying to keep his players grounded

 On City’s current form and success Toure said: “I think for me the team is playing the same football that they used to play. One thing we have had is fighting for the second ball, we know that in the Premier League it is a physical league.

“When you have the ball it is top but when you don’t have the ball you have to fight. That is the difference from last season.

“Of course the team is growing and getting better every single game, every single day. That is what we want.

“The manager says we are growing and that is the most important thing. Let’s see where we are going to be at the end of this season.”

Next up we’ve got Ruben Amorim speaking ahead of Man Utd’s Monday night clash with Bournemouth and Regis Le Bris talking to the press about Sunderland’s Sunday derby against Newcastle

Kolo Toure has praised his boss as City sit just two points behind leaders Arsenal:

“We know the quality of Arsenal, they have a really strong squad and a fantastic manager but it is all down to us.”

“We have the best manager in the world who is doing an incredible job every day, his passion for the game, he loves the players, he loves his staff,” he added. “We know he will take us far as we can to win that league, for us we focus on what we can do.”

When asked about opponents Crystal Palace this weekend Toure said: “They are a top team, they are really good, they are fourth in the league.

“They are second best at the moment at conceding goals but for us we focus on what we can do. We know if we play our football, consistent and work hard as a team we can beat any team in this league for sure.”

Toure updated City’s injury news before their match on the weekend. When asked about the return of John Stones he said: “Tomorrow when everybody comes back we will know more about the players.

“I think he [Stones] will be back soon.”

When asked about Rodri returning on the weekend he said: “Rodri is training really well, he is doing his rehab really well. He is looking sharper and sharper.

“I dont think we are going to see him for the weekend but he is doing really well.”

When asked whether Pep will be available for the game against Crystal Palace on Sunday Kolo Toure responded: “Absolutely.”