Press news in...

🎙️Philippe Clement will speak to the media at 13:30pm this lunchtime to preview tomorrow's clash against WBA🔰
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Clement has confirmed Lucien Mahovo will miss a period with a muscle injury. He is still a young lad with a lot of potential. He wanted to continue the story because he felt good and was doing well. It was a good rotation with Ben that was growing week by week. I'm convinced Lucien will come back in a very good way.'

Does that mean a left back could be on the radar?: 'We need to have these conversations inside the club with what is left in the window.'

Clement says rotation is likely in some positions to retain freshness and to ensure the players that come on with energy. He confirms Ali Ahmed will be 'on the pitch', but doesn't want to confirm whether that is a starter or from the bench.

On Sargent: 'If there is any change, I will tell you guys directly.'

On Makama: 'I am a perfectionist so I don't worry about being surprised. It's not only one play, it's all connected with how we create chances and link. So it's a success with everyone.'

Clement on Ryan Garry: 'We didn't come across him (in Belgium). We have Nick, Ryan and Steph who work with little groups. That is how it works. Then I step in at certain moments because I make the decisions. All three of them take a big responsibility and work really hard together. We've been here from early in the morning until late in the evening. They suit my work ethic and what I expect from my staff.'

Can Schwartau play in the number 10 role?: 'I don't want to block other positions, but I do see him playing there, otherwise I wouldn't have done it. I haven't had the opportunity but with Papa and Ali coming, I can now do it. He's only 19 but he's so mature and a lovely lad. I'm excited to see how it progresses. We have three different types with Anis and Jacob, who has done well in games. They are different in profile and it's more difficult for opponents because they don't know what to expect.'

Marcondes absence: 'It's competition. We have loads in some areas of the pitch and in others not so much.'

Transfers out: 'It's about what is the best is for their careers. There may be a young player that needs to go on loan, but he needs to get minutes. That depends on transfers in or not.'

On incoming transfers: 'It was a busy day yesterday. I had talks, along with Ben, with potential targets yesterday. I then went home at 8.30pm and watched some more videos. One minute it was the third minute in the game and then the eighth, it was a sign that I needed to put the laptop down and go to sleep so I could be fresh for today. There is a lot of work going on.'

On Wrexham: 'There were a lot of good things. But a good team and good players are able to do it every three days. That is the next challenge. I know it is a lot more consistent than three or four months ago, but I want to see more. I'm looking forward to the future.'

West Brom and Eric Ramsey: 'Every club is different so I have nothing to say on how hard it will be (to get an uplift). But it's hard to know how they will play because they played two different systems and we've watched a lot of Minnesota. We need to be ready to adapt to different situation. Whether it is West Brom or Coventry, we need to focus on ourselves. We have a long journey ahead. We don't need to look to the past or the future, we need to look at the moment we are in and grabbing everyone we can.'

Four unbeaten on the road: 'There are many signals. It is the truth that the team is moving in the right team and moving in the right direction. We need to keep that togetherness which is in the dressing room, it's major, whether players are starting or not starting. We need to keep that culture. Not to be mathematicians but to be football players.'

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That's all from Philippe Clement this afternoon.

Posted By: DrDublin on January 19th 2026 at 13:38:12

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