Fulham host Newcastle United in the Premier League after the international break, so HITC Sport has taken an early look at predicting their XI – led by Willian and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The Cottagers went into the pause in domestic matches following a 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest on Friday. Tosin Adarabioyo drew Marco Silva’s side level at the City Ground early in the second half, before Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed hit to create an unassailable lead.
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Beating a fellow promoted team returned Fulham’s third win of the season in seven games so far. It also ensured the west London side entered the international break inside the top half of the table, while £157.5m spenders Nottingham Forest linger in the relegation zone.
Silva spent £62m on his summer signings to strengthen his Championship-winning squad at Craven Cottage. Palhinha was Fulham’s most expensive arrival at £20m, but has offered the west Londoners two goals in seven Premier League starts since leaving Sporting Lisbon.
Fulham will be desperate for several of their star players to now return from international duty fully-fit to feature in Silva’s XI at home to Newcastle. The Magpies visit the Cottagers on Saturday, October 1 for the resumption of the top-flight campaign with a 15:00 kick-off.
So, while injuries could occur in the coming days, HITC Sport has taken a very early look at predicting the Fulham XI that Silva fields to face Newcastle on their visit to Craven Cottage.
Bernd Leno (GK): Summer signing starts in predicted Fulham XI vs Newcastle
Bernd Leno will expect to start in Fulham’s XI to face Newcastle, having started in their five fixtures preceding the international break. The £8m summer signing from Arsenal will also hope to take his first Cottagers clean sheet against the Magpies after conceding nine goals.
Kenny Tete (RB): Super start to Premier League season amid new competition
Kenny Tete has enjoyed a super start to his Premier League term against new competition from £6.5m signing Kevin Mbabu. The full-back has kept the Swiss out of the starting line-up with some stellar defensive showings, showing to be superb with one-vs-one situations.
Tosin Adarabioyo (CB): Mainstay of Silva’s side to start in Fulham XI vs Newcastle
Adarabioyo has been a mainstay of Silva’s squad so far this season so should start at home to the Toon. The centre-half is one of three Fulham players to play all 630 minutes on offer in the top-flight this term with some important defensive acts, but is also shaky on the ball.
Tim Ream (CB): Cottagers captain is often the star centre-back in their line-up
Tim Ream is regularly Fulham’s star centre-half with a string of performances bettering the efforts of Adarabioyo beside him. The American is consistently an important presence over his top-flight outings, making crucial actions whilst skippering the side in all matches so far.
Antonee Robinson (LB): American makes predicted Fulham XI vs Newcastle
Antonee Robinson missed Fulham’s win against Nottingham Forest due to the non-contact ankle injury he sustained against Tottenham Hotspur. But Silva noted ahead of travelling to the City Ground that the issue was ‘not really serious’, so will now look ahead to his return.
Harrison Reed (CDM): Silva will expect to see midfielder repeat high performance
Silva will now expect Reed to repeat the high levels of his performance against Nottingham Forest when Fulham host Newcastle. The midfielder scored his first goal of the term at the City Ground, and should benefit from the Magpies playing with width to impact the match.
Andreas Pereira (CDM): Summer signing to step up with Palhinha suspended
Silva will need another of his summer signings, Andreas Pereira, to step up in a deeper role against Newcastle. Fulham will be without Palhinha when the Toon visit after he received a fifth yellow card so far this term at Nottingham Forest, where he was the star of the show.
Willian (RM): Brazilian to build on first Fulham start against Nottingham Forest
Willian made his first start since joining Fulham against Nottingham Forest, and HITC Sport predicts Silva will keep the Brazilian in his starting XI. The free agent pick-up also laid on an assist at the City Ground from a corner, and also offered flashes of his attacking potential.
Bobby Decordova-Reid (CAM): Palhinha suspension forces Silva to reshuffle
HITC Sports predicts Palhinha’s suspension will force Silva to reshuffle his midfield options when naming the Fulham XI to meet Newcastle. With Pereira likely to drop deeper, Bobby Decordova-Reid could move into a more centralised position to get on the ball more often.
Neeskens Kebano (LM): Winger to return to Fulham XI at home to Newcastle
Neeskens Kebano made way for Willian to make his full Fulham debut against Nottingham Forest. But with an opening on offer, HITC Sport predicts the 30-year-old will return to the wide-left position, from where he has started five of six appearances with one assist so far.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (ST): Serbian star will be loath to go two without a goal
Mitrovic will be loath to go two Premier League games without a goal for the first time this term when Fulham host his former side, Newcastle. The Serbia star has enjoyed a stunning start to his top-flight term with six goals in seven games but did not net at the City Ground.
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