Marco Silva receives boost ahead of Leeds United FA Cup tie with Aleksandar Mitrovic available for Fulham
Aleksandar Mitrovic has recovered from injury and will be available for Fulham to face Leeds United in the FA Cup, Sonia Twigg reports.
The Serbian striker has been out with a thigh problem and had not been expected back in action yet, but Cottagers boss Marco Silva shared team news ahead of the Tuesday night meeting in London (28 February) and revealed his number nine is back in contention.
Javi Gracia got off to a winning start against the Premier League’s bottom side Southampton at the weekend but faces a much tougher test at Craven Cottage against the sixth-placed side in the cup, especially now if 11-goal Mitrovic plays.
Reporting via Twitter Associated Press journalist Twigg wrote from Silva’s press conference on Monday: “Mitrovic will be available for Fulham’s FA Cup match against Leeds tomorrow. Tom Cairney and Neeskens Kebano remain sidelined.”
And Portuguese Silva said, via BBC Sport, Mitrovic is “an important player but, as you know, we are much more than just one player”.
Step up
Three points against Southampton were a must and thankfully for all concerned Gracia’s substitutions appeared to make the difference on the way to a crucial 1-0 win.
Advancing in the cup is not as important but this is certainly not a throw-away game that can be discarded without a fight, even if Silva’s side are flying high this year.
Undoubtedly Fulham are a tougher proposition with main man Mitrovic in the line-up, but it was going to be a far greater challenge either way.
Leeds United have had a habit this season of being at their best against the better teams, and if the Londoners feel more confident at home with their striker in the XI and play more positively it could lead to gaps for the Whites to exploit.
It remains to be seen what changes Gracia makes from the winning team on Saturday, and he has already proven reluctant to give away much about his side before games.
But if he can get his players to produce a strong follow-up performance that is good enough to get through in the FA Cup it would show there is a new confidence to this side.
In other Leeds United news, the captain of a Championship side has been texting the new Elland Road manager offering his assistance.