Marco Silva has hailed the influence of American veteran Tim Ream as the experienced centre half prepares for a possible sixtieth successive start for the Whites.

Ream, who was ever present in the league during Silva’s first season at Craven Cottage as Fulham bounced straight back to the Premier League by winning the Championship, has produced some of the finest performances in his six years by the banks of the Thames this term as the Cottagers have surprised everyone by occupying seventh spot as the Premier League approaches the winter break demanded by the Qatari World Cup.

Silva told his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend’s trip to Manchester City:

“He has been a really important player for me since I joined this football club. He is a top professional and a very good player. He has some of the things I like in a central defender and keeps improving. Last season he started every game in the Championship and played 90 minutes in every game apart from one where he came off injured.

He played 46 games and this season he has started every game in the Premier League and that shows what a good professional he is. He trains well, is always ready and has a great capacity to recover after games which is not easy at his age.”

The current Fulham coach stylishly sidestepped a question about why Ream was sidelined by his predecessor Scott Parker whilst the Whites were in the Premier League two seasons ago.

“I cannot talk about why as I was not here than and I don’t know why the decision was made. Different managers want different things and different profiles in central defence. I know this season he has guys around him that are pushing him hard and it is not easy to keep your place as Issa Diop, Shane Duffy have come in and Tosin is here too and they all want his place in the team.”