Fulham head coach Marco Silva has revealed where Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey needs to improve, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 25-year-old played 35 of the Cottagers' 38 English Premier League games last season, and has featured in every game for them this season, but he came off the bench in the 82nd minute against Arsenal last week.
Ahead of Fulham's game against Newcastle United, the former Watford manager revealed he chose Jorge Cuenca over Bassey in their loss to the Gunners because the former Rangers centre-back can sometimes be unreliable in the air.
Silva urges Bassey to be better in the air for Fulham
“Calvin had an amazing season last year – very quick, strong, the most agile one,” the Portuguese manager said in an interview with Jon Harland, as revealed by Hounslow Herald.
“But I knew Cuenca was more than capable of doing the job. He’s given us all the confidence to start him.
“Even if sometimes the team sheet doesn’t show it, he’s a very important player for us.”
Behind the scenes, Silva says Cuenca has been a model professional, despite the frustration of limited minutes, and that attitude is a part of the reason why the Spaniard started over Bassey against Arsenal.
“Cuenca is a top guy, working hard every single day. Of course, in some moments he’s not so happy because he’s not playing — and I want them not happy if they’re not playing.
“But the way he trains, prepares himself and pushes others — he’s a great example.
“To not have doubts, to leave out a player like Calvin and start Cuenca, that shows the confidence we have in him,” Marco Silva concluded.
