Marco Silva says Jay Stansfield will be part of Fulham’s first-team plans next season after the England under-21 international starred on loan at Birmingham City this season.
The young forward scored thirteen goals during a turbulent loan spell at St. Andrew’s but couldn’t prevent the Blues being relegated to League One last season. Silva has long admired Stansfield’s talent – having watched him score his first Fulham goal in the League Cup at Birmingham during his first season in charge – and confirmed during his press conference earlier this afternoon that the 21 year-old will be staying at Craven Cottage next term.
“He’s going to be back with us [next season]. Everything we planned apart from the collective goal of Birmingham City [to avoid relegation] which was not what we wanted, was a box [ticked]. He played the season before in League One [at Exeter City] and to be able to be given a step forward in the Championship and be an important piece in the attack line and score important goals was pleasing. Jay achieved all the important things. Now is the moment for him to come back and be one of the players in our attacking line for next season”.
