Roy Hodgson is eager to freshen up his squad by handing Giles Barnes a chance in the first team in the closing weeks of the season.

Barnes, who signed on loan from Derby County in January, but has yet to make his Fulham debut having been hampered by a lack of match fitness and niggling injuries. He picked up a slight knock in Fulham’s reserve team win over Spurs recently, although he was very impressive scoring one and making another as he played 75 minutes.

Hodgson reckons that Barnes has a real chance of making an impression by the end of May,

He is doing very well, is much fitter and has improved his physical ability to play 90 minutes. We are really pleased with him and he is not far away – we think he will have an important role to play in the final games of the season.