The final game of the Premier League sees Fulham travel to Bedfordshire to take on Luton Town. The Kenilworth Road clash lacks the tension that it might have done with the Hatters, who have performed admirably in the top flight after a difficult start, needing a twelve goal swing to climb above Nottingham Forest and complete an unlikely escape act. Marco Silva has urged his side to finish the season strongly after an underwhelming run that has seen them win just one of their last eight matches – whilst denying that his charges have been easing through games after securing safety impressively.
Silva’s main selection dilemmas – aside from whether to give some fringe players a run out – will concern the make up of his defence. Issa Diop is suspended after being shown a second yellow card having conceded a penalty deep into stoppage time against a rampant Manchester City side last weekend. The experienced Tim Ream is the obvious replacement, but restoring the veteran American to the back four would repeat a scenario that saw Fulham struggle earlier in the season: a pair of left footed central defenders as he comes in to partner Calvin Bassey. The Nigerian international looked well below par as a right-sided centre back.
The biggest question is whether the highly-rated Luc de Fougerolles, fresh from helping the under-21s win the Premier League Cup on yesterday, is ready for a Premier League debut. The eighteen year-old is already a senior international with Canada and was impressive enough at Ipswich Town in the League Cup earlier this season. Naturally right-footed, confident on the ball and strong in the air, this would be a selection with a view to the future – and help us learn something about the youngster’s suitability for the top flight. Silva did talk about other alternatives during his pre-match press conference on Friday. Joao Palhinha has slotted into a defensive role for Portugal, whilst Kenny Tete was discussed as an emergency centre back.
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno has been ruled out of Euro 2004 with a shoulder problem, but is likely to be available for the season finale – even if long-standing deputy Marek Rodak deserves a taste of league action at the end of another frenetic campaign. Sasa Lukic will again miss out in midfield so it will be interesting to see what composition Silva goes for in the engine room. Tom Cairney has been used mainly off the bench in recent weeks, but the classy captain’s precise passing would be tailor made for prising open the Luton defence. It was intriguing to see Alex Iwobi and Andreas Pereira swapping positions in a fluid midfield as Silva sought a tactical change to trouble Manchester City. That obviously didn’t work against the champions’ elect with Pep Guardiola’s side weathering a strong start from the Cottagers to win with ease, but Iwobi’s versatility is something that could be successfully used against other Premier League sides in the future.
Luton, who will probably pay for not getting enough wins in the run-in, are only without Tom Lockyer after the captain’s collapse at Bournemouth earlier this season. Happily, the erudite centre back has made a strong recovery and Rob Edwards has no injury worries after winger Chiedozie Ogbene made his comeback from injury in last week’s devastating defeat at West Ham. The Hatters have plenty of Fulham connections in their squad with former Fulham youth prospect Elijah Adebayo, who scored against the Whites in the Championship two years ago, having hit double figures in the Premier League. Cauley Woodrow, back with his boyhood club, has been mainly used as a substitute.
MY FULHAM XI: Rodak; Castagne, A. Robinson, de Fougerolles, Bassey; Palhinha, Cairney; Traore, Willian, Pereira; Muniz. Subs: Leno, Tete, Ream, Reed, Iwobi, De Cordova-Reid, Wilson, Jimenez, Broja.
