Fulham are to be without Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic after his positive COVID-19 result. Mitrovic is suffering from ‘mild symptoms’ according to manager Scott Parker after contracting the virus last week.
Blow for Fulham After Aleksandar Mitrovic Tests Positive for COVID-19
Disappointing News for Scott Parker Ahead of a Big Week for Fulham
The Serbian has struggled for form this season after an impressive campaign in the Championship last year. Mitrovic was a mainstay in the side but has not been a regular starter so far this season.
Fulham boss Scott Parker is disappointed with his absence as he feels this has come at a moment where he ‘was coming out the other side of what has been a bit of a tough season’. He has only started eight games this year for the Cottagers, but had slowly been experiencing a change in form.
This comes at a difficult time for Fulham, who have a big week coming up which will entail some season-defining results. They face Burnley this evening before a relegation six-pointer at home to Sheffield United on Saturday. Mitrovic will be unavailable for both games.
The trip to Turf Moor is made more difficult with this news. Burnley have found a run of good form which has increased the gap to eight points between themselves and Fulham. An impressive 3-0 win away to Crystal Palace this weekend means Sean Dyche’s side will go into tonight’s game full of confidence looking to extend that gap between them and the bottom three.
Closing the gap on Burnley would be a bigger feat than extending their gap from Sheffield United on Sunday. A loss to Burnley could mean,n regardless of their result this weekend, they will be no closer to safety. This is a huge week for Parker’s men which will have a large say on their Premier League future.
In Mitrovic’s absence, January signing Josh Maja will look to fill the goalscoring void for Fulham. The 22-year-old scored twice on his debut against Everton in an impressive win for Parker’s men. He will look to pick up from where he left off. Fulham have struggled all season to score goals. Before last weekend’s trip to Goodison Park, Fulham had only managed to find the back of the net four times in the league since Christmas.
If Fulham are to have any hope of staying in the division, by closing their seven-point gap from safety, they will have to find goals from somewhere. Parker will hope Maja can step up to the task.
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