Juric on Downes, being more clinical and his transfer window plan

Southampton boss Ivan Juric has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at home to Brentford (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Midfielder Flynn Downes, who is yet to return to full training, will be assessed on Friday to see if he is fit enough to return to the matchday squad.

• There are no new injury concerns but Saints will be without Mateus Fernandes as he serves a one-match ban for collecting five yellow cards.

• On the players' mood: "They are really motivated and want to change this moment. They know they need to be better than before and put more energy into being more clinical to win the game."

• He said the plan for the January transfer window is to "reduce the squad" and he will meet with the owners next week to discuss his "ideas."

• In response to what changes he hopes to make at Saints going forward: "It's important that we become winners and not losers. In the last two games, we conceded from set-pieces. We haven't conceded in open play. We need to get better in attack."

• He said the best thing for Tyler Dibling would be to stay at the club and continue to develop as talks about a new deal continue.

• On Sheffield United being interested in Ben Brereton Diaz: "I prefer not to speak directly about the players."

• Meanwhile, Juric wants Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu "to stay" with the Saints because "he has lots of potential", despite only making three Premier League starts for the club: "Chelsea are not stupid and he's 20 years old."

• On Saturday's visitors: "Brentford are really good. They have had their coach for a long time and you know what they want to do. Tactically, they are really good."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news