The Serbian national team head coach Dragan Stojkovi? has suggested that Sasa Lukic could be out for between four and six weeks after picking up a muscle injury in Fulham’s defeat at AFC Bournemouth on Friday night.
The all-action midfielder, who has been ever present for Marco Silva’s side this season, was replaced by Tom Cairney just fourteen minutes in the 3-1 reverse at the Vitality Stadium on Friday night.
Bad news, he’s been really solid this season.
Silva will now have to rethink his options, including the formation and tactics needed.
I note that Robinson has flown to the States, so it seems he’s fit enough for them but not for Fulham, very strange.
If Muniz and Jimenez are still unfit after the break, will Silva still play that square peg Traore in the CF role? Who knows.
Perhaps Silva has began to be a Parker, regarding the team as a protest over the Khans lack of necessary recruitment last summer.
All will be revealed when the team is announced for the Arsenal game.
Grim one might call it…
Looking back many of us agreed with Marco that we needed to strengthen the midfield…whatever one might think of AP , his departure was not filled…JK of course was an addition but we needed more.
So many looked expected ESR to emerge from his cocoon and become a contributor but of course that has not happened.
So Reed and Cairney will be drafted in.
Iwobi is or was a number 8 but Kevin is not working out at all, AR is not ready and so on.
Add to that no strikers, maybe Raul will be ready after the break but has no back up…JKA “not ready”.
Marco is gone, one can sense it.
And who can blame him.
I’m not one, but I know Sasa has his detractors who say he doesn’t bring much to the game, but I think we’re really going to see how integral he is to the way we play in his absence. It’s going to be a long 6 weeks.
I’m assuming that Iwobi is the replacement as, unfortunately, neither TC nor Reedy can play 90. Josh has played there when younger, but I dont think his physique is there yet to be a Prem CM.
Still, we will get by but I think its going to cost us a few points. We need to belatedly sign CM cover in January.
Reedy and T.C. can play 90 between them. Not only has Sasa been solid this season, but I’ve noticed he’s been getting forward more this season. We will also miss his corners.