Weekend Briefing: team news for the Premier League & EFL

1 Newcastle count cost of Foxes tussle

Newcastle followed up their 1-0 success at Tottenham with an encouraging performance in the EFL Cup second round, drawing 1-1 at home to Leicester before losing 4-2 on penalties.

But they failed to secure place in the next round and their efforts came at a cost with Emil Krafth (thigh), Jetro Willems (hamstring) and Matt Ritchie (ankle) picking up injuries which are likely to rule them out of Saturday's clash at home to basement boys Watford.

Krafth and Ritchie filled the wing-back positions for the matches against Tottenham and Leicester and their injuries are a major blow.

Bruce will also be without winger Allan Saint-Maximin, who lasted just 17 minutes against Spurs before suffering from a recurrence of a hamstring strain.

Christian Atsu and Javi Manquillo are likely to come into the side but Newcastle will be weaker than they were at Tottenham, offering hope for Watford, who are chasing their first points of the campaign.

2 Nottingham Forest boosted by Joao Carvalho return

Nottingham Forest have been encouraged by their team's bright start to the season and it may be about to get better because attacking midfielder Joao Carvalho is closing in on a return to the starting line-up.

Carvalho missed the majority of pre-season with an ankle injury but came off the bench in Tuesday's EFL Cup second-round tie at home to Derby and bagged the final goal in a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Carvalho joined Nottingham Forest from Benfica in a reported £13.2 million deal last summer and has a fair way to go before living up to his price tag.

The Portuguese did his best work towards the end of last season, ending up with eight assists and four goals.

However, Forest's new manager Sabri Lamouchi was keen to keep Carvalho and has not ruled out starting the player at home to Preston.

Lamouchi also delivered a positive update on the fitness of midfielder Ryan Yates (knee), who he expects to be back in contention after the international break.

3 Barnsley suffer double blow

Barnsley have not tasted victory since defeating Fulham 1-0 on the opening weekend of the season and their problems increased substantially during last Saturday's 3-1 loss at home to Luton with goalkeeper Samuel Radlinger suffering knee ligament damage.

Radlinger is expected to be sidelined until September, meaning back-up keeper Brad Collins is set for extended run in the side.

Another casualty from the Luton game was defender Bambo Diaby, who suffered an injury which rules him out of the trip to Wigan.

Radlinger and Diaby join Cauley Woodrow, Jacob Brown, Jordan Williams and Kenny Dougall on the list of absentees.

4 Oxford lose key striker Matty Taylor

Oxford are facing up to a couple of months without key striker Matty Taylor after he was forced off with a groin strain during last Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers.

Taylor has an excellent track record in the third tier and was heralded as a key signing when joining from Bristol City earlier this month.

But he was less than two games into his Oxford career when suffering the injury, leaving manager Karl Robinson fearing the worst.

The player underwent a scan this week which was inconclusive but Robinson warned supporters not to expect a quick recovery.

He said: "The scan didn't give us complete clarification, so he's got to go back for another so we can have a clearer picture of what it is.

"But there is something in there. You're talking possibly four to eight weeks.”

5 George Cooper signing lifts Plymouth

Plymouth boss Ryan Lowe should have a stronger squad to select from for their trip to Northampton after snapping up midfielder George Cooper on loan from Peterborough and welcoming striker Byron Moore (hamstring) back to full training.

Cooper drops down a division, having featured 21 times for the Posh last season, scoring two goals.

He will add competition to the midfield area which is weakened by Antoni Sarcevic's ongoing three-game ban.

But Plymouth may be short of options up front with Dom Telford and Joel Grant rated doubtful after missing Tuesday's 4-2 loss at home to Reading in the EFL Cup second round.

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