Fulham quartet ‘doubts’ for Newcastle United clash - plus Aleksandar Mitrovic injury latest

Fulham team news ahead of Newcastle United’s Premier League clash in the capital.
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Fulham will be without at least three senior players for the visit of Newcastle United this afternoon.

Cottagers boss Marco Silva confirmed on Friday afternoon that Joao Palhinha, Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon are ruled out.

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Key midfielder Palhinha, who joined from Sporting Lisbon in the summer, is suspended in what is perhaps the West London outfit’s biggest absence.

“He’s an important player for us, no doubt about it,” Silva said. “He’s settled really well.

“No surprise for me. I know him very well. I expected a quick adaptation from him. I think the Premier League suits him really well.

“João is one of the players that settled really well, showing his quality. Unfortunately, he will not be there, so another one has to pop up and show his quality as well.”

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Wilson and Solomon are both recovering from their respective knee injuries, while Silva labelled Antonee Robinson as “doubtful”.

Robinson is among several players being assessed ahead of kick-off, according to Silva.

The former Everton manager said: “Let’s see what I decide tomorrow. He’s doubtful for tomorrow. He’s trained with us some days during this week, and let’s see.

“The others we have to assess in the next hours, and tomorrow as well, to decide.”

Latest on Aleksandar Mitrovic’s fitness

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Silva hinted that Aleksandar Mitrovic is available to face his former club despite picking up a knock on international duty with Serbia in midweek.

The 28-year-old scored 43 goals in the Championship last season and has continued that form in the Premier League with six goals in seven matches so far.

“He doesn’t need that motivation (of playing against his former club), he doesn’t need to play against Newcastle to be motivated,” Silva said.

“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.

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“After, when he is on the pitch, he is always doing something to help the team to win football matches.”

Mitrovic, after joining from Anderlecht in 2015, scored 17 goals in 72 appearances for Newcastle before being sold by Rafa Benitez.