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🎙️Philippe Clement will hold his pre-match press conference at 13:30pm this afternoon.
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PC - Makama. I don't want to guess, but Sunday not possible to make full assessment, so prefer to speak about game, not injuries. Likely he will update tomorrow... and not revealing if he will play at Oxford.

Jurasek is bone stress not a fracture - likely to be out nine to 10 weeks.

Other injuries aside from Diallo and Makama? Only bumps and knocks.

PC on Blackburn: I wasn't happy with the start, too slow and sloppy. Didn't create enough in the first half. Second half was better, energy from bench helped team as well. In general a very good win. Less good than previous games, solid defensive game... important that you have good organisation.

Sam and Mo - short time in the building but stepped in like they were here longer. That's positive that they adapted really fast.

Cutting out goals conceded - "We are much more solid than we were a while ago". Been also working hard on creating and scoring not just defensively.

PC says Darling and Medic performing well in training, which is important. On Chrisene: Really happy but potential to be better. This is one of the periods when he is playing really well. Want to push him to change his boundaries to become a really top player in that position.

PC says opponents are adapting to what NCFC are doing now - first thought is to stop NCFC. That's positive - clean sheet, kept our organisation, fought hard to create chances and when got them were clinical to get the points.
Oxford fifth in the league for expected goals against, drew 0-0 with Coventry.

Oxford will be a tough challenge - but we cherish every challenge. It won't be a free ride - which is why I don't want to give too much info on players availability.

Slimane - says in the first week he didn't see too much in him. He played more as an 8 in training. Talked to him about playing style - he kept on working hard, I like to ask players what positions they see themselves in - Slimane said he thought he could do a good job at 10, so we tried it in training. And he felt like a fish in the water. There will be moments you will see a player in a different position I want all players to grow to top level - I set the bar high, it is now about the players developing.

Oxford home was first home game - with a twist in the tail. PC says it will be a totally different game. Think Oxford will play different because they have a new manager. Data shows they are good at getting people in the box. Different playing surface at Oxford as well - but no excuses. But because of all that it will be a different kind of game.

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That's all from Philippe Clement today.

Posted By: DrDublin, Feb 9, 13:44:24