According to Fulham boss Mark Hughes, want-away Bafana Bafana midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi might be staying at English Premiership side Fulham after all as the club found out that they will be playing in the Uefa Europa League next season.
And Cottagers coach Hughes says he will have to use his full squad given the number of matches to be played, suggesting Dikgacoi, in particular, will get more game-time.
“I can’t guarantee anyone first-team football week in, week out – he [Dikgacoi] has to understand that,” Hughes said last week.
“When I got the job he was out injured, so I didn’t have the opportunity to see him. He needs to come back and reintegrate himself in the summer. If we get European football, he’ll be a part of that.”
Fulham reached the final of the 2009/10 Europa League, but lost 2-1 to Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
Dikgacoi has also been linked with a permanent move to English Championship side Crystal Palace, where he spent a successful six-month loan spell last season, helping the club avoid relegation.
Fulham want Palace’s highly-rated Wilfried Zaha and were willing to offer Dikgacoi as a makeweight in the deal.