O'Neil on Palacios, ambition and new signings

Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 16:30 BST). Here are the key lines from his news conference: O'Neil began with a team news update: "We're hoping Florentino [Luis] will be back around it. He's still got a bit of work to do but he's improving well. Azor [Matusiwa] will still miss the game, he's not quite back. Jack Taylor will still be out and Jaden Philogene won't make the game either. Hopefully we will get some better news next week but this week he will miss out. Really pleased with where the group is at, we're in a good place." On new signing Exequiel Palacios and whether he will feature on Sunday: "Yeah, I'm sure you'll see him on Sunday. He's a talented boy and has obviously had some huge success over the past few years [with] club and national level. An incredible signing by the football club." O'Neil added: "[After] the work that went in from everybody all summer to try to attract people to the project and what we are trying to build, you can feel the belief around the place just constantly growing and constantly improving." On what the new signings show about the club's ambition: "The ambition that this place has, the support that they give coaches and the direction of travel, is something that, as soon as it came around, I knew I wanted to be part of." O'Neil continued: "To attract some of the players that we have - proven Premier League players in Issa [Diop] and Sasa [Lukic], and some players from all around the world - I'm really grateful for the owners' backing. I know they are committed to making this club as special as they can." O'Neil said it has been a "fantastic summer for the club" and he wants the fans to "carry the excitement" with them for as long as they can. On a loan deal being agreed for Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham, O'Neil said: "No update, as far as I am aware. Sounds like you're further along with that than I am. Nothing to report on that." He added the club are "hopefully not finished" in the transfer window and are "still working hard to try to improve the group". O'Neil described Sunday's opponents Manchester United as "one of the most talented groups in the country" and "an incredible force", and said Old Trafford is "always a special place to go that always tests you". The Englishman said his side will "scrap and fight and give everything they have got" against the Red Devils. Listen to live commentary from Old Trafford on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 16:30 on Sunday Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news Got a question about Ipswich? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts [BBC]