XHAKA UPDATE

Regis Le Bris has given the latest update on the timescale of Granit Xhaka's injury, and how he might opt to replace our captain with other leaders in the squad. With over a week to ponder squad selection, hopefully the gaffer can select the right midfielders to play on Monday night...

INJURY UPDATE

“Yes, he is doing well. We will see where he is to define the next stage of his rehabilitation. It should probably take three more weeks.”

WHU FAN DISPUTE

“It is a shame because we don’t need this event in a football stadium. It happened, I don’t know the responsibilities exactly. For me, the game is the game and then everything around it, there are always many things to say.”

DIARRA IS A BOOST

“It is like a new part of the season with Habib, because he just started the first month and after that he’s had a long journey with different experiences. He is like a new signing and we are happy to have Habib back in the squad. He is a midfielder, so we’ll see how we manage the setup to find the right balance.”

HUME’S MIDFELD ROLE

“Trai has played as a right winger with the ability to come inside. Probably at West Ham it wasn’t the best version of our game, not only one player. Trai in this setup is more of a right winger, able to manage the right hand side. He can combine with Nordi for example. Sometimes when we need to create more movement and options, he can come inside because he is versatile. His ability after that, to play out of possession in a back four or five, is important especially for our deep block against strong teams. In possession it is really useful for the squad. For the next setup we will see because it is good to have different options, now we need to find the option to win. We will see on Monday.”

XHAKA INJURY = OPPORTUNITY FOR DIARRA?

“We will see. He has to take the place, not only for Habib but it is a question of connections and it is always the case. We will have to define a new setup with a strong period once again, a really exciting but challenging period, and we need those challenges to grow once again. I think the journey from one experience to another, you learn from it. So it is difficult to anticipate exactly what will be the pathway but we have good players so we have to build the new setup.”

CAPTAIN REPLACEMENT

“I think we can’t replace Granit so we have to build a new setup and new leadership as well. It takes time, but at the same time Granit wants to create the conditions for new leaders so it’s a good period for that. We might struggle a bit - which is normal in the Premier League, is it not just a question of one player being missing, it is about the level of the league. We are still a newly promoted side, so don’t forget this perspective is really important. We have to manage a new setup without the leader from the first part of the season, but I think we have the potential in the squad. It takes time and we need those experiences, often negative even if it’s not comfortable, because you can react and learn from that point.”