Fulham coach Marco Silva has explained that he still needs to see more brilliant performances from Samuel Chukwueze before he can give the forward an increase in game time, Soccernet.ng reports.
Chukwueze joined Fulham from AC Milan in a season-long loan on the last day of the summer transfer window. However, his start to life at the club has been slow.
All six of his appearances so far have come off the bench. His most recent outing, however, showcased his real quality.
Chukwueze entered the fixture in the 64th minute and changed the complexion of the game completely.
He quickly took up the mantle of being the tormentor-in-chief for the Cottagers and eventually supplied the assist for Raúl Jiménez's lone goal.
That Chukwueze assist looking better with every angle. pic.twitter.com/wc3xqY00C7
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) November 25, 2025
Given that performance, it would be expected that Chukwueze would earn a more prominent role on the team in the coming weeks.
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However, Fulham coach Marco Silva, while appreciative of Chukwueze's efforts, maintains that the Super Eagles star needs to do more before he becomes a regular starter.
“If you look in 3 months, how many times he was out of this club was too long for a new player,” Silva said, per Jack Kelly.
“I have the privilege to see him in the sessions, doing the type of things that he adds differently for us – creativity, last pass, last definition.
“I'm pleased with him, but I have to see more. It's not his fault that I have to see more. I think all the context didn't give us the chance to see more.
“I need to see more in session and more time in games to see the adaptation for the intensity, for the aggressiveness in the right way that PL demands from players.
He is a very good player I knew before. That he has the talent I knew before.”
When Will Samuel Chukwueze Get His First Start For Fulham?
Samuel Chukwueze joined Fulham on transfer deadline day. Crucially, he did not have a pre-season with the squad and did not even train before departing for international duty with Nigeria.
So far, he has already been on three international breaks, and this consistent travel has played a significant role in his reduced training time and subsequent limited minutes.
Unfortunately for him, the player above him in the pecking order, Kevin, has been a constant presence at the club's training sessions since his summer transfer from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk.
Fulham visit Tottenham in the Premier League this weekend, a fixture that promises to be an enthralling encounter since it is a derby.
Despite Chukwueze's superb last performance against Sunderland, it is almost certain that the Super Eagles winger will not start the match—if Marco Silva's recent comments are anything to go by.
Nonetheless, if he gets minutes off the bench, he will be hoping to impress again and finally earn the full backing of his coach.
