Decordova-Reid a doubt as Parker plans changes for Newcastle game

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Fulham are ready to rotate the squad for the first time this season when they face Newcastle on Saturday night.

Bobby Decordova-Reid is already looking doubtful after Wednesday;s gritty 0-0 draw with Brighton.


Scott Parker reckons it would be “physically impossible” to ask the same side to play a full three games in seven days, especially after the head coach made only one change from Sunday’s team against Liverpool to the XI that started against Albion.

Therefore, he admits changes are likely.

“Yes, we’re looking at it,” he said.

“We’ll have to consider rotating the squad. It would be physically impossible for a player to play so many games as what the schedule is and we have to look at it and see where we can brighten things up.”

All the same, some players are going to have grit their teeth and get through another 90 minutes.

“It’s due to where we are,” Parker said.

“We’re a team than just got promoted, and yeah, we brought in some players.

“But that’s what it is for us. There are players who are going to have to recoup, get back out there again, and the same for the Christmas period.”

The fall-out from the Brighton draw casts a doubt over Decordova-Reid for the trip to St James Park.

The forward, and latterly wing-back, scored a cracker against Liverpool, but Parker suggested he’s one likely to be rested against the Magpies.

“Bobby’s got a bit of an issue with a quad that he picked up in the first half,” he explained.

“It’s a recovery day (Thursday) so, we’ll see where we are a bit nearer the game.”