It’s the final Premier League gameweek before the international break, and managers up and down the country will be speaking to the press.Daily Mail Sport will bring you all the key news here…De Zerbi: Kulusevski will be ‘like a new signing’ The eagerly-anticipated return of playmaker Dejan Kulusevski will be like a ‘new signing’ for Tottenham, according to head coach Roberto De Zerbi.Kulusevski has not played for Spurs since the end of the 2024/25 campaign due to a right patella injury, which has essentially put the career of the Sweden international on hold for 19 months and ruled him out of the summer World Cup.There finally appears to be light at the end of the tunnel after Kulusevski returned to full training this week.He first returned in August only to suffer a small setback, but the 26-year-old is back and whilst he is not ready to face Aston Villa on Saturday, a first comeback appearance could be on the horizon in October or November. The eagerly-anticipated return of playmaker Dejan Kulusevski will be like a ‘new signing’ for Tottenham, says Roberto De Zerbi’We have to manage Deki in the best way we can, with the medical staff, physical staff, but it’s a great thing for us,’ De Zerbi said. ‘He’s a good player, he’s a good guy and he deserves to play again.’We have to work day by day, also for Deki it’s important the international break because when he will be at the top of condition and pass over the injury, I think it’s a great signing. A new signing for us, another new signing.’Kulusevski was arguably Spurs’ best player during an injury-affected 2024/25 campaign before he missed the whole of last season due to this long-standing knee problem.It was a similar story for James Maddison, who sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage last August before he returned ahead of schedule in May to help Tottenham stay in the Premier League.Maddison’s pre-season this time around has been hampered before a shoulder issue at Brentford on the opening day provided a further setback, but after an encouraging cameo in a 3-1 loss at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, the 29-year-old is primed for more minutes against Villa.De Zerbi added: ‘Listen, James is working with the team in the last 10, 15 days. Maybe less than 15 days and even if he’s a technical player, he needs to be fit, to stay in a good condition.’When he arrives to the best condition, it’s very important for us as a personality, as a characteristic, as a quality, as an experience. The quality of his passes are different than the others.’Pedro Porro and Sandro Tonali sat out Tuesday’s defeat to Liverpool but are available for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.Spurs are winless and goalless in the Premier League after four matches. However, Villa are below them in the table in 19th with only one point.De Zerbi said: ‘You have to stay calm, to be confident in what you are doing, what the players are doing. They have my full confidence.’Emery puts pressure on De Zerbi’s SpursUnai Emery has piled pressure on Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi by backing them to finish in the top four this season.Emery takes Aston Villa to north London on Saturday with Spurs still seeking their first league goal of the season. Yet Villa have fared even worse: although Emery’s men did get off the mark against Nottingham Forest last weekend, they have only one point to Spurs’ two.Villa finished fourth last term with Tottenham narrowly avoiding relegation. Yet given Spurs spent about £300million on transfers during the summer, Emery believes they should be targeting Champions League football next season.’I expect them to be in the top four,’ he said. ‘They are in a similar situation to us but they have huge potential. Tomorrow is a huge challenge for us. Unai Emery has piled pressure on Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi by backing them to finish in the top four’The capacity to spend money in summer gives us information about which teams are contenders. Hopefully we can fight with Spurs and beat them but at the beginning of the season they are contenders.’There are always favourites to be in the top four and Tottenham are among them. Not just this year, but in previous years too.’By Tom Collomosse Iraola looking forward to Bournemouth return – as club meet with Brentford transfer chiefAndoni Iraola says he was ‘buzzing’ to see Bournemouth win in the Europa League on Thursday night – and insists he is looking forward to hugging some of his old colleagues.The Basque boss switched the south coast for Merseyside this summer after a fantastic three years at the Vitality Stadium which culminated in them qualifying for Europe for the first time.There will be no time for niceties before the match as he takes his new Liverpool side back to his old stomping ground on Sunday needing a win after three draws and one victory to start the Premier League season.But Iraola is looking forward to a catch-up after the game and said: ‘It’s going to be, on the personal side, I am really looking forward to it, meeting them and hugging them. Andoni Iraola insists he is looking forward to hugging some of his old colleagues ahead of his return to Bournemouth this weekend’Players that I love. People I appreciate so much. I was buzzing for them yesterday in their first European game, I wish them all the best, but there is another part… we need to go there and beat them and leave all the talking for after the game.’They have not changed too much in terms of names, mostly the same starting XI with very few changes, they lost Marcos Senesi and signed Antonio Silva. Their main ideas and philosophy (is the same), I was lucky to talk to Marco Rose before leaving.’They continue to be very dangerous.’Meanwhile, Liverpool have spoken to Brentford transfer chief Lee Dykes about becoming their new sporting director.But it is nothing more than that at this stage and the Reds are speaking to multiple candidates – both internal and external – to replace recently-departed Richard Hughes, who joined Al Hilal.Liverpool have a structure in place at the club and Julian Ward, who has held a number of roles including a previous stint as sporting director, is a strong candidate from within the building.By Lewis Steele Maresca not getting carried away by City’s flying start Enzo Maresca is refusing to get carried away with Manchester City’s flying start to the season, acknowledging pressure could quickly mount if results turn.City continued their fine run of form by brushing aside Championship Norwich 5-0 to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round on Thursday.Since losing to Arsenal in the Community Shield, City have won their last six matches in all competitions – a fine start by Maresca after stepping into the void left by Pep Guardiola.The City manager, whose side next face Sunderland on Sunday, said: ‘I’m really happy. I said in the first press conference, for me to be in this club is a privilege and to be in this club after a legend like Pep is a privilege.’I know if I don’t win it’s a disaster, and it’s normal, but I don’t spend my day thinking who was here before and for how many years.’I’m just here to focus on what we can do better, improve the team and trying to win games.’I’m very happy with these five or six games in a row but now the main focus is just on the next one and I’m not thinking that we won six in a row because those games are finished. We focus on the next one and then we have the international break.’City made 10 changes for the visit of the Canaries, who fielded a weakened side themselves.Teenager Floyd Samba stole the show on his senior debut, scoring twice as he took the place of the rested Erling Haaland at centre-forward. Enzo Maresca is refusing to get carried away with Manchester City’s flying start to the seasonSamba also had a hand in a goal for Rayan Cherki while winger Allan Elias, signed from Palmeiras for £34million last month, also scored on his first appearance for the club.A strong night for the City academy was capped when 18-year-old Ryan McAidoo came off the bench to add the fifth in the last minute.In all there were seven City academy graduates on the field. Nico O’Reilly, Rico Lewis and Kaden Braithwaite also featured for the hosts, while Dan Grimshaw and Jacob Wright were in the Norwich side.Maresca said: ‘We have different competitions. We have many games and we are just at the beginning of the season.’The ones that played are going to play Premier League or Champions League games because the season is long.’It was very important we gave rest to the ones that played back-to-back 90 minutes against Porto and (Manchester) United. Hopefully they can be full of energy for Sunday’s game that will be a strong game.’Samba, the son of former Blackburn defender Christopher, regularly plays as a midfielder but his performance up front offers another potential option.Haaland is the only out-and-out striker in the first-team squad and, although he is one of the first names on the teamsheet, there will be occasions when alternatives are needed.Maresca said: ‘We have Antoine (Semenyo) there, we can use Phil (Foden) and Rayan Cherki as a false nine. It depends on the gameplan.’But Floyd played here, he was good and hopefully we can give him more chances.’Arteta explains his ref criticismMikel Arteta said his criticism of the referee’s decision to award Sunderland a penalty against Arsenal last weekend was through a duty to ‘defend my club’ and confirmed they have spoken to Pro Ref.The Spaniard was incensed after referee John Brooks awarded the Black Cats a penalty for grappling in the area between Dan Ballard and Ezri Konsa.He was adamant that Ballard had pulled Konsa to the ground and on the day labelled Brooks’ decision as ‘unacceptable’.Ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League fixture against Brighton on Saturday, Arteta said: ‘I am here to try and give my opinion, defend my club, give the very best to my players.’In order to do so I need to respond in the most direct and fair way. I will make mistakes sometimes but I will try and be as fair as possible.’We have a space to talk and give our opinions. It’s everybody’s duty to try and improve the game.’Arsenal have since spoken to Pro Ref about the matter. Mikel Arteta said his criticism of the referee’s decision to award Sunderland a penalty against Arsenal last weekend was through a duty to ‘defend my club’ ‘We discuss many topics and very important all of them. To talk to give their opinions, and everyone’s duty to try and improve the game,’ he said.When pushed on what was said, Arteta replied: ‘It is a conversation that will remain private.’He was also asked whether Arsenal received a direct apology like Manchester United did soon after the Manchester derby defeat to Manchester City: ‘It is not about an apology. It is about agreeing that the decision should be different or not.’Meanwhile, Arteta is optimistic that up to four injured defenders could return for the club’s trip to the Amex.Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie all did not feature in the midweek Carabao Cup squad against Ipswich Town.’Everyone is fine. We still have another training session this afternoon, but I’m very optimistic about all of them,’ he said.’They all want to be involved, and we’ll use the final session to make sure they’re ready.’Ben White was forced off at half-time at Sunderland but Arteta indicated all is well with his right back, stating: ‘All good. We have another training session.’By Isaan Khan