Team news | Ange on Cuti 'in a good place', Micky, Richy and Dom

Ange Postecoglou reports that our longer-term injured players are 'ticking along well' and that it was about 'picking our moment' in terms of the return to action of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

Ange confirmed that Cristian had positive news from a scan of his injured quad and that he was 'in a good place'. He is hopeful both Cuti and Micky - restricted to two appearances each in our last 25 matches due to injury - would be available for our UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first leg against AZ Alkmaar on 6 March.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Ange gave an update on Rodrigo Bentancur, Kevin Danso, Heung-Min Son - all available to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday (3pm UK) after picking up knocks in last week's win against United - before giving the latest on the longer-term injured players Cristian, Micky, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke.

"The guys are ticking along well," he said. "We've two games in quick succession in the league (Ipswich followed by City at home next Wednesday, 26 February) a good opportunity for us to get match minutes into the guys who have been out for a while.

"We saw Brennan and Wilson, Vic and Madders come back last week, Destiny as well, we now need to give them some minutes and these two games give us the opportunity to do that. Then we have a week before the first Europa League game (Round of 16 first leg vs AZ Alkmaar on 6 March) and that's about the time we're hoping that guys like Romero, Micky in particular, they should be in and around that mark, with Richy and Dom not too far behind. We've two games before the international break and we're mapping it out and navigating a way where we can have as fit and healthy squad as we've had all year for the run in."

Ange was later asked if Cuti had undergone a scan. "He's had a scan, it's going well, he's in a good place. Like I said, with him and Micky, it's about us picking our moment now. I'm really keen to get them back and have them back for the rest of the year. We've a good period coming up where we can manage that where they're back, they've had good weeks of training with us so when they come back in, they'll be in a good place. He's still going well."