Tonight’s trip to Selhurst Park is an intriguing one. Fulham are limbering up for the mouthwatering trip to Manchester United on Sunday August 19th, when the Whites make their long-awaited top flight return after 33 years in the wilderness. After a slow summer in the transfer market, the extent of Mohamed Al-Fayed’s ambition has been underlined by big money moves that have seen Jean Tigana agree deals for Edwin van der Sar, Steed Malbranque and Abdeslam Ouaddoh in recent days.
Of the three new signings, Ouaddoh appears the likeliest to make his debut against a Crystal Palace side that are themselves looking forward to a new era under Steve Bruce. van der Sar, who will be formally unveiled at a Fulham press conference arranged for tomorrow, is likely to watch his new team-mates from the sidelines, whilst Malbranque’s £4.5m move from Lyon has been delayed by red tape and some French intransigence.
Tigana’s only one injury concern appears to surround Danish winger Bjarne Goldbaek, who picked up a head injury during Fulham’s last outing at Celtic and will be assessed prior to a decision being made on his fitness tonight. Louis Saha is set to lead the line and the French forward, so devastating in his first season back in his English football, would love to get back amongst the goals after being effectively nullified at Celtic Park.
The Eagles will be eager to return to winning ways after they were well beaten by Cardiff City in their last friendly as Welsh international Robert Earnshaw ran riot.
MY FULHAM XI (4-4-2): Taylor; Finnan, Brevett, Ouaddoh, Goma; Clark, J. Collins, Stolcers, Boa Morte; Hayles, Saha. Subs: Hahnemman, Knight, Symons, Davis, Trollope, Goldbaek, Betsy.
