PH under dagens pre match pressekonferanse:
Here's Hecky...
We start with injuries.
“We could put out a good side with them!â€, he says.
On injuries
Heckingbottom confirms Roofe is back in training.
De Bock and Ayling remain out, he continues.
“There’s a fairly big injury list now but we have to deal with that.â€
More on injuries
“We’ve got lots of good players out. We’d love everyone fit and available but we can’t dwell on it.
“My focus is on the players who are fit and available.â€
On Fulham defeat
“We want to be playing in atmopsheres like that, chasing the top six every week,†he says.
“We need wins and we need belief. Wins help with belief.
“That’s what makes the difference in the big moments. You have to believe in everything you do with and without the ball.â€
PH on O'Connor
“If he is needed we want to give him the best possible chance to succeed.“
On Sunderland
“We know they’ve got good players. On their day they can be really dangerous, but they’ve just not shown it every week.
“Bolton and Fulham were both scrapping for points for different reasons and we’re expecting exactly the same.
“They’ll approach the same game the way they did against Derby.
“We’ll focus on our appraoch, just as we did against Bolton and be on the front foot.â€
Is hard to blood youngsters when the team is low on confidence?
“In an ideal world if you could bring one player into a settled side, they’re more likely to succeed.
“Ultimately it comes down to the player on the day.â€
“We’re far less likely to make a negative judgement on their debut, it’s important to hold back on that.â€
Pennington and O'Kane
Both have had scans and are doubtful. Awaiting a second opinion, but Heckingbottom is preparing to be without them for Sunderland.
On changes he might make
Heckingbottom says he is more likely to change personnel, rather than system.
On the type of injuries
Heckingbottom is talking about soft tissue injuries - says he wants really robust, conditioned players moving forwards.
PH on Ekuban
Heckingbottom has not spoken to him about Fulham since the game. Says he’s an infectious personality on the training pitch. We win and lose together, he says.
Says he is being picked ahead of Lasogga purely for football decisions - not because the German will be gone next season.
On transfers
Heckingbottom is asked how much work has been done.
He is focusing on the games and the players there at the club, but they have spoken about it and work is going on in the background. It’s second-most in his mind at the moment.
Clear on who should stay and go?
Heckingbottom says he is making decisions all the time, but that will change between now and the end o the season.
There will be more discussions in the summer.
He also believes ‘all’ summer transfer windows are complicated. You should be working just as hard then, he says.
Latest on Hernandez
Nothing new to report on Hernandez’s new deal, as negotiations continue.
On almost going to Sunderland
Heckingbottom says talk about going to Sunderland last year was pure speculation.
‘Almost comical’, he says and it was a ‘strange time’.
Could BPF be first choice next season?
“Everyone’s playing for that,†he says.
BPF’s chance was thrown to him and he’s grasped it.
He still has areas to work on, but he’s had a right good go.
Latest on Roofe
Roofe came back last week, Tuesday was too soon to involve him.
Important to build him up and make sure he has an impact on the pitch.
Hopefully he is ready, now.
Sees him playing down the middle mainly, like he did at Oxford. Wants him to affect the game.
Forshaw and Cooper latest
Hopes to see them both again this season.
On Ryan Edmondson
He’s done really well, scored loads.
Behaves like a man, which you don’t often get in young players.
Everyone speaks well of him.
Need to give him all the right stimulus in terms of challenges.
Not unrealistic to see him playing for the first-team this season.
That's all for now