Marco Silva is fretting over a Fulham injury crisis after he saw Sander Berge and Harry Wilson limp out of a soporific stalemate against bottom of the table Southampton.
The Whites lost Kenny Tete for two months at Liverpool last weekend and after Emile Smith Rowe picked up a knock in training this weekend, Silva’s thin squad could face its toughest test against Chelsea on Boxing Day. Fulham’s engine room could be further diminished after substitute Sasa Lukic went down clutching his shoulder.
The Fulham head coach said:
“Not good signs for Sander and Sasa. Sander Berge was a big knock. He twisted his ankle – let’s see how he is going to react in the next few days. Lukic was out a long time with his shoulder, but he felt something in the final minutes. With Harrison Reed out, Smith Rowe not in condition to be involved. With Reiss Nelson out as well, we are short of options.
Silva was also pleased by the emergence of teenage midfielder Josh King.
He is a great talent. It is not a coincidence that he had a chance to start the game. He showed in some spells of the game what he is capable to do. It’s an important moment of his career. Let’s hope there are more to come.”
Not good news. Thin on the ground and no real quality to step in. Backs against the wall time on Boxing Day.
Maybe Silva will have to look at his set up to best suite the players he has at his disposal, rather than his preferred way of playing. He could play Ryan Sessegnon in the Harry Wilson role. I’m not sure who can play in the DMF, I hope an under 21 can stand up and play, but does Silva trust them?
Big jump for under 21s from what I’ve seen not ready. Could be back to wall game like Southampton did to us my team Leno Castagne Andersen Diop Bassey Pereira Iwobi king Traore Jimenez Robinson Subs Cairney Cuenca Godo Muniz Vinicius Sessegnon Gordon Donnelly Benda