Fulham forward Lucas Piazon returned to first-team training today at Motspur Park after almost four months out following a horrific leg break at Leeds at the start of the season.
The popular Brazilian has battled back from another serious injury ahead of schedule giving a huge boost to Slavisa Jokanovic’s squad when he joined them for his first taste of training at the club’s New Malden base today. He looked delighted to be back among his team-mates – and came through his first session with no problems. Piazon, who returned to Craven Cottage on a second season-long loan after the success of his first temporary switch down the King’s Road last term, made a terrific start to the campaign – scoring at Wycombe in the League Cup and coming back to haunt former employers Reading by rescuing a point for ten-man Fulham as a substitute at the Madjeski Stadium.
The versatile 23 year-old looked set to be more of a regular starter for Jokanovic than at the beginning of his loan spell last year, before a robust challenge from Leeds’ Conor Shaughnessy at Elland Road abruptly ended his rich vein of form. Piazon, who returned quicker than expected to play a part in the Whites’ end of season surge after fracturing his jaw at Cardiff last term, will not be available for selection at Sunderland on Saturday as he builds up his fitness. He will instead step up his training regime once Jokanovic’s squad returns from the Stadium of Light with a view to featuring at the tail end of Fulham’s festive fixture programme.
