Marco Silva is adamant that Aleksandar Mitrovic won’t need the motivation of facing his former club Newcastle tomorrow to keep his fine Fulham form going.

The Serbian striker, who brought his half century of international goals as his country won promotion in the Nations League in midweek, has started the season sensationally – scoring five goals as the Whites surged in the top six on their return to the top flight, surprising plenty of pundits.

The Fulham head coach told his pre-match press conference this afternoon:

“He doesn’t need that motivation. He doesn’t need to play against Newcastle to be motivated. Mitrovic is always full of motivation to play with a Fulham Football Club shirt or with his national team, that is the motivation for him, to play football matches, to be involved with his team-mates, to keep playing with his connection with me and my staff as well, that is the motivation for him, he doesn’t need other motivations. After, when he is on the pitch, he is always doing something to help the team to win football matches.”

Silva also revealed that left back Antonee Robinson is back in training but will face a fitness test. French international Layvin Kurzawa, on loan from Paris Saint Germain, could deputise for the American international having proved his own fitness after the Fulham boss opted to play Tim Ream at left back in the win at Nottingham Forest. He also had encouraging news on Welsh winger Harry Wilson, who is close to a return after suffering a knee ligament injury in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Aston VIlla.

“It’s difficult to say (when he will be back), when you have this type of injury, in the knee, in that ligament. He could give some steps forward. But, after, something comes and you have some steps back. He’s going normal, probably we expected him to be a bit more ready right now than he is, but in 10 to 15 days we can see him train, be more confident with the team and, after, it’s up to him to get in the shape he can to be a solution for our team and the national team.”