Fulham duo expected to return for Brentford game

Embed from Getty Images

Fulham duo Tim Ream and Kevin McDonald are expected to return for next weekend’s derby at Brentford after missing out against Millwall.

Central defender Ream missed his first Championship game of the season as the Whites won 1-0 at Craven Cottage, while midfielder McDonald was also sidelined.

Boss Slavisa Jokanovic expects the pair to be available against Brentford. But forward Floyd Ayite, who also missed the Millwall game with a hamstring injury, is likely to be out for another three weeks.

Jokanovic said: “We were going to rest some players. They are injured, but we expect they can be ready for the Brentford game.

Embed from Getty Images

“It was our third game this week without a few important players, but we made a clean sheet and this is fantastic news for us. We must be satisfied.

“It’s positive that we won the game at home and made our supporters happy and finished with back-to-back wins. This is the Championship and that isn’t easy.”

Fulham triumphed courtesy of an Oliver Norwood penalty in first-half stoppage time, awarded after Millwall’s Conor McLaughlin was adjudged to have fouled Rui Fonte.

Jokanovic described the spot-kick decision of referee Paul Tierney as “clear”, although his Lions counterpart Neil Harris was less convinced.

“What helps the referee give it is Macca is the wrong side of the player,” said Harris. “Contact is minimal. But I’m not going to blame the ref for the decision.”