Simon Stone
BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter

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There were some positive pictures posted by Manchester United of central defender Matthijs de Ligt training "on the grass" at Carrington on Thursday.

De Ligt had been one of the stand-out United players over the first half of the season.

However, after starting every game, he has been missing since the victory at Crystal Palace at the end of November due to a troublesome back complaint.

BBC Sport reported a fortnight ago De Ligt had not completely abandoned all hope of playing again this season.

While there is clearly a lead-up time required and only four games left after Monday's Old Trafford encounter with Brentford, the sight of the 26-year-old running again has to be viewed as a step in the right direction for a player who had hoped to go to the World Cup with the Netherlands in the summer.

Manchester United

Manchester United's interim manager Michael Carrick said there is a "possibility" Leny Yoro will be fit to face Brentford but he cannot confirm that yet.

He added that Patrick Dorgu is working his way back to full fitness and is "closer to training with us".

Manchester United

Manchester United's interim manager Michael Carrick on his own future: "I've said it many times, I enjoy being here and I enjoy the role I'm in. We've had some good results and are in decent shape. We want to keep improving. I'll see. There's only so much I can say, but I enjoy being here. I love being here. It's a real privilege to be in the position I am."

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Vítor Pereira on whether Morgan Gibbs-White should be in the England squad: "I just can give my opinion about his character and his quality. He is a leader, he wants the responsibility even when we are struggling in the games. In my opinion, of course [he should be in the England squad], but I respect the national team manager and his decision, it is not my work. I just have good things to say about Morgan."

Nottingham Forest

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Nottingham Forest boss Vítor Pereira on Sunderland: "They are having a very good season. I have reminded my players that they are 10 points above us. That means something, it means they are playing with consistency.

"When they play at home, they feel the energy of their supporters. But this is about is, not them. I respect Sunderland a lot. They have a good team, they are strong competitors, a good manager. But in the end it isn't about them, it is about us."

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Vítor Pereira on whether he is more confident the club will avoid relegation now than he was when he arrived at the club: "If I accept a job at a club, it means that I believe in the team, the players, the club, the supporters and our work. I'm very positive and I believe we have the talent, character, energy and supporters to be in the Premier League next season."

Nottingham Forest

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Nottingham Forest boss Vítor Pereira on whether last week was a turning point for his side: "Honestly, I think the results that we are getting means that we are creating consistency. We are competing in every game for the results, this is the spirit I want to see in my team until the last game because I cannot say that with three or six more points that everything is done.

"I believe this season, it will be special in terms of points to avoid relegation. We need to get points and then get points in the next games in the Premier League. This is the only way in the end to get the conditions to celebrate [avoiding relegation] and feel proud of ourselves."

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Vítor Pereira on whether he takes confidence from the five-point cushion in the league table: "We are in a position that will depend on us. This season our life is in our hands, this is what I've said to them [the players].

"For now, we must get points and to keep going, keep fighting, trying to get points everywhere, playing at home or away. With the mentality that we need to face the next challenge."

Nottingham Forest

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Nottingham Forest boss Vítor Pereira on Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after having surgery on a leg injury: "I think he is OK after the surgery. He is an important player for us but the most important thing is to have a full recovery, to come back at the level that he used to have."

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Vítor Pereira on Murillo's availability: "No, he is out. He has a muscle injury, I don't know. I am not a doctor, I cannot predict [when he will return]. It will be hard tomorrow."

More team news: "Dan [Ndoye] will be in the right condition to go to the game, which is good news for us."

Sunderland

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Sunderland manager Regis le Bris on "second-season syndrome" and how different things may be for his side next year: "We will see. At least it shows once again that you have to grow or move forward because if you stay at the same level you get finished really quickly.

"It is clear in our mind that we have to improve our team, our club, our coaching staff. I have to improve my model and the way I manage the team. It is the mindset of the club and after that you never know the competition and the opponent."

Sunderland

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Sunderland manager Regis le Bris was asked if he feels proud with what he has achieved this season, considering the number of sackings that have been happening around him: "This job is a bit specific. For me, I do not look around, I do not look too far in the future. The most important thing for me is to stay focused and work hard with a strong project, clear identity, clear team-work. I am not alone. It is an interesting job and the results can influence the judgement, at least the external judgement because that is often connected with the last emotion. If you win, you are really good. If you lose, they might say you are not the right man for the job.

"The most important thing for me is the consistency and at this club in two seasons, we have been really consistent. When we are struggling we are working hard to change and to fix problems. When we are going well and winning, it is not the end of the project. We still have something to learn, something to prove and something to achieve.

"I am comfortable being in this project and want to work hard."

Sunderland

Sunderland manager Regis le Bris on team news: "Nilson [Angulo] and Bertrand [Traore] are close to returning to part training next week.

"Jocelin [Ta Bi] started the sessions with us this week. We may go further next week because he felt good which is good news.

"There is nothing else to flag."

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Loves a long news conference does our Eddie. But that's all from the Newcastle boss now.

We're still awaiting the latest from Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, so, while we wait - here are the top lines from all of Thursday's news conferences including both of the sides that are in action this evening...

Newcastle United

That's all from the Newcastle United boss before Saturday's trip to the Emirates.

Here are the top lines from his news conference:

• Howe confirmed that Tino Livramento hasn't suffered a "bad injury" but it will be a case of "wait and see" as to whether he plays again or not this season
• More bad news on the injury front came with regard to Anthony Gordon, who will miss Saturday's trip
• He admitted that the side's current poor form has been difficult for everyone, stating "we are all feeling that pain at the moment"
• The Newcastle boss was telling with regard to his answer to a question on Nick Woltemade's absence from the starting XI, claiming "you have to reward players for what they deliver"
• Howe said "five wins out of five are needed" to end the campaign, starting with Saturday against the Gunners
• Finally, he claimed the owners and PIF delegation visiting "happens regularly" and is "nothing out of the norm," adding that he always like to speak with the owners directly himself to express his perspective on things

Newcastle United

A final word from Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on the owners and PIF delegation visiting: "It is something that happens regularly, nothing out the norm for us. I always like to talk directly to the owners and to express things from my perspective. It has been something we have always done and I look forward to it next week."

Newcastle United

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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on the difficulty of not having a stable team: "It's been difficult this year. We're never going to have a stable team because of the amount of games we've played. So we're always going to be with the run that we had, playing every three games. It was always going to be a sort of a state of rotation because very, very difficult to play the same players continually.

"But, I think that was healthy for us at what sort of stages through the season because everyone was involved, everyone was playing a big part in our success. Now we're in a different moment in our season, we're playing week to week.

"We can potentially have a more stable team, but we haven't performed to the best level so I'm searching for, to a degree, the players that want to step up and play every week by performing at their best levels."

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on Bruno Guimaraes: "He's had a full week of training and he's trained really well. I've been very pleased with him. It's been tough for him. I think you could see against Bournemouth that he came on with all the right intentions to deliver a really good physical performance, but you could see that he was struggling at times physically to adapt to the pace because he really had minimal training.

"But he was playing on heart and spirit and determination. But the week he's had this week will serve him really well. He's such an important player for us on so many levels that, of course, we're keen to get him on the pitch as quickly as possible, but I've just got to make sure it's not to his detriment. It's been great to have him back around the group, though. He's such a positive person that he can only help and inspire the players around him."

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Newcastle United

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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on the future of the club: "We're always looking at the team and trying to make assessments and judgements for the future. That's natural. Of course, if the team is not performing then there will be bigger changes in the summer than previously. You have to react to what you see. That goes on, on a weekly, daily basis behind the scenes.

"I think the players will expect that, there is a responsibility to try and be at your best, that falls on me as well to deliver the best I can for the players and the staff. It goes with the territory."