Goalscoring hero Ian Pearce has been ruled out of Fulham’s trip to Everton on Good Friday after failing to overcome a foot problem.
The veteran centre back played through the pain of an injury sustained in the draw with Portsmouth after Chris Coleman had made all of his substituions. The former Blackburn and West Ham defender was sent forward to play up front in the closing stages as the Whites desperately chased an equaliser – and rescued a point with a vital injury-time leveller. Pearce is joined on Fulham’s injury list by Italian striker Vincenzo Montella, who has failed to recover from a groin complaint, left back Franck Quedrue (hamstring) and midfielder Claus Jensen, still sidelined by a knee injury.
Everton might be able to call upon Manuel Fernandes and James McFadden. McFadden scored twice for the reserves in midweek after missing eight matches having broken his metatarsal in January. Fernandes missed the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Monday having strained a thigh on international duty with Portugal’s under 21 side.
