Joachim Andersen is one of five Fulham first-team squad members to be missing for Saturday’s trip to take on league leaders Liverpool at Anfield.
Speculative press reports earlier this week suggested that the Danish defender might be available earlier than expected after injuring his calf in the home defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, but head coach Marco Silva has confirmed that Andersen still has some way to go in his rehabilitation. Harrison Reed, who has torn his meniscus, and Reiss Nelson is expected to out for months after injuring his hamstring in the win over Brighton and Hove Albion earlier this month.
Club captain Tom Cairney serves the final game of his three-match suspension following his sending off at Tottenham Hotspur, whilst Calvin Bassey is suspended having received his fifth yellow card of the campaign during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
Silva told his pre-match press conference earlier this afternoon:
“No fresh news, really, just Joachim and Harrison Reed [are out injured], plus Reiss Nelson from the game we played against Brighton. They are going to be out for the game, and of course, the third game of Tom Cairney, plus the fifth yellow card from Calvin Bassey.
[It is] difficult to have a really precise time in this situation. I believe that Joa probably is going to be the closest one to come [back]. Harrison Reed, we have to see, step by step. Reiss Nelson is going to be longer. Difficult to say when he’s going to be back, but probably around ten weeks he’s going to be out, for sure.”
