Fulham boss Marco Silva has hinted that new signing from Manchester City Oscar Bobb is in line for a place in the starting eleven ahead of their FA Cup fixture against Stoke City on Sunday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Cottagers welcome the Championship side to Craven Cottage on Sunday, and while Silva is keen on a deep run in the competition, the Portuguese tactician will likely rotate his squad to give opportunities to new players and reduce the workload on the regulars.
Samuel Chukwueze, who has been a regular fixture on the flanks since his move from AC Milan last summer, might be one of those who could be dropped.
The Super Eagles star has been brilliant since joining from the Rossoneri, contributing three goals and four assists in 13 appearances. But the arrival of Bobb has made the competition for places in Fulham’s attack even tighter.
Oscar Bobb Set for First Fulham Start?
Bobb joined the Cottagers in a €31.2 million deal in the final days of the January transfer window. He had to make the switch due to his inability to get regular minutes at Manchester City.
Speaking ahead of their tie against Stoke City, Silva confirmed that fans should expect some tweaks to the starting XI, with Bobb in particular among one of beneficiaries.
”We are probably going to have some changes, but we're looking at this competition very seriously,” Silva said during his pre-match press conference.
When asked about the possibility of Bobb starting, he said, “Could be, he's had a good training session this morning. Let's see.”
Should Samuel Chukwueze Be Bothered?
Samuel Chukwueze should be bothered if Oscar Bobb gets a chance to start and he performs well for Stoke City.
The former Villarreal man has had a solid start to life at Fulham. However, with Bobb—a player known for his technical ability and versatility—now breathing down his neck, the Nigerian will need to be at his best whenever he gets the chance.
The Cottagers are heavy favorites heading into the game, but Silva will also be wary of a possible upset.
Bobb would add a different dimension to his frontline, due to the youngster's ability to drift inside and create overloads in the half-spaces.
