Press news in...

Phillipee Clement's pre-Preston presser is due to begin at 13:30, here at Coolknee
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We start with injuries. Josh Sargent has been on the grass, "but we need to assess towards tomorrow what we're going to do with that". Clement says "we will follow the rules really strictly, that's important".

PC says he wants "as much competition as possible in the squad" rather than Jovon Makama's goals making him feel better about the prospect of Sargent missing out. "It's opportunities for others."

On Kvistgaarden injury: "We're going to assess it in the next weeks to see how much training, the load and what to do with exercises around the training sessions. The consultancy was really interesting and Mathias is feeling good about it." In order for him to do full sessions all week, the load needs to be managed. "I'll give you already a Christmas present - he will be in the squad."

Jack Stacey, Lucien Mahovo and Liam Gibbs all trained all week, so are all available for selection. Jeff Schlupp will be "longer term for sure". Papa Amadou Diallo is running with the physio and PC says the target is for him to be back in the squad in two weeks. "You've seen where we want to get with the team, and he for sure is somebody with specific qualities that can help the team play that kind of football."

PC says the full week's training has given "the chance to do give them some fitness". He adds: "It's also meant we can do some community things. It's good that some of the young lads see what's happening in the society around them - I have to say that they were really brilliant. That made me really proud as a manager. You need to be a great person off the pitch as well as on it."

Clement: "We've spoken about leadership, a lot of young players in the squad. In these moments you learn who can be the future leaders. Who are the positive guys, who gels everything together and motivates the others to do these things."

On game management: "It's a lot of things. I was not happy with the end of our game against Oxford, and after every game we speak about where we can get better. The team is very focused and they've taken very fast steps."

PC says Jacob Wright is "very intelligent", which is what tempted him to try him in the number 10 position. "It's not only in press conferences that I ask questions, I ask more with the group. Jacob is really sharp, alert and focused. He picks things up really fast and he has a good awareness of time and space. His scanning to find free spaces is really good, which is important for me in that role." Clement also feels that Emi Marcondes has those qualities and that Mathias Kvistgaarden could play there in future.

Clement on January targets and positions: "We had a meeting two weeks ago about my first impressions about positions, and we all agreed about what to work on. We had a meeting two days ago and changed our mind in one position because of what players have shown. It's a constant evolution, so it depends how the players are doing."

The City boss says he'll prepare for each game individually rather than looking at the festive period as a group of fixtures. It will all depend on how players cope with the minutes they get and what the fitness is.

On Preston challenge: "It's a big one. They've done really well and only conceded 22 goals this season. They're well organised and aggressive in their pressing, so you have to be prepared well for that kind of football. They deserve to be where they are, so for us it's a big challenge. It would be a dream to be in the top three now, and it's a dream far, far away. We have another chance to compete with a team in really good form after Sheffield United and Southampton."

Clement says experience in the Preston squad has led to consistency, "but that's also the project here. The other side is that our players have the potential to become a lot better".

Clement: "If you want to get into the top six, you have to win away games and home games. It's important to have 20,000 fans giving you all this energy, but we need to get this energy out of ourselves, even if 25,000 are booing us."

On the fans travelling to the game: "I've met a few fans with the visits to the hospital and the people I met at the stadium. Those people are really dedicated, with all their heart, to do this trip, so we have to repay them."

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And that's all from Philippe Clement. Onto Deepdale...

Posted By: DrDublin on December 19th 2025 at 13:49:40

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