Fulham will face a Newcastle United side in the midst of a defensive crisis when the two teams meet at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Head coach Matthias Jaissle confirmed four players will definitely miss the Premier League fixture, with two more considered doubtful. The match is a significant one for Fulham, who currently sit 15th in the Premier League with 9 points from their opening nine games, having recorded two wins, three draws, and four defeats.
Tino Livramento and Ewen Jaouen are ruled out with long-term injuries and will not return until after the upcoming international break. Jacob Ramsey is suspended after being sent off in Monday night's match, while Joelinton has suffered a fresh injury setback.
"Joelinton went out with an injury again, we need to make the final treatment plan for him and see how long he will be out," Jaissle said. The Brazilian midfielder only returned to the starting lineup last month after missing the end of the previous campaign.
Potential returns for Magpies
Jaissle indicated that Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Lewis Miley could potentially be available for selection. Fernandez-Pardo has been sidelined for more than two weeks with a virus but has resumed training. Miley is also making progress in his recovery.
The manager stated he would be "very surprised" if the pair were not named in the matchday squad of twenty players for the trip to west London. Their availability will be assessed in the final training sessions before the game.
Context for Fulham
The match presents an opportunity for Fulham, who sit 15th in the table with nine points from nine games. Their recent form shows two wins, one draw, and two defeats from their last five outings, a sequence that includes a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa last time out. That result on 31 October saw them earn a point thanks to an own goal, following a 0-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace on 28 October. Their recent run also includes a 1-0 win over Hull City on 17 October and a 2-1 loss at Ipswich on 10 October.
Marco Silva's side are just two places and two points behind their 13th-placed visitors. A victory at home would see them leapfrog Newcastle in the tightly packed mid-table. They find themselves 15 points behind the league leaders, Arsenal, underlining the importance of securing points in matches like this one. The full fixtures list shows this is the first of three home games in four for Fulham during November.
Newcastle's extensive absentee list, particularly in defence, could influence Silva's tactical approach. Fulham's next fixture after this is a home game against Bournemouth, adding significance to their quest for points this weekend. The game kicks off at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.
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