Aleksandar Mitrović will return to the Fulham squad for Saturday’s trip to Southampton, having completed his eight-game ban.
And when asked how the striker has been over the period of his absence, Marco Silva admitted it hasn’t been easy for him, but that his attitude has been exemplary.
“It’s been tough, I will not lie to you,” he said. “His behaviour has been very, very good, all this period, with support from ourselves, but he knew from the first day that it’s going to be a different situation to a normal ban.
“He was always working with the team and came in on the weekends. It was a tough period for him, of course, [but] the dressing room supported him, we as a staff, all of us in our football club, our fans as well. It’s clear, even during the matchdays, you can feel that they are with him clearly, and it will be good to have him back.
Aleksandar Mitrović and Marco Silva embrace following Fulham’s draw at Chelsea
“We admitted as a club that you cannot react in that situation. He did it, he admitted the mistake, but the number of games, if you compare with the other situations, is completely different.
“It’s what it is, we as a club kept strong and kept supporting him, and it will be a good thing to have him back.”
Carlos Vinicius has led the line in Mitrović’s stead recently, racking up three goal involvements in his previous three outings, giving Silva a decision to make at St Mary’s.
“A very good headache,” he admitted. “It’s what any manager wants really, and it was the reason why we signed Carlos.
“More game time and making good things, bad things, mistakes, whatever, makes players grow. Of course, some important goals gave him the confidence that he needs as well, and it’s nice to see him performing better and better the last few games.
Aleksandar Mitrović and Carlos Vinicius
“It’s important to have a player like Mitro, a player like Vini, and we even won two games with Daniel James as a striker and Bobby as a striker.
“Different profiles, and we were able to do that in games against Everton, and Leeds at home, and that shows that everyone knows his role, everyone is fighting for the Club and can pop up in certain moments of the season.”
James won’t be an option this weekend, as he is still carrying the knock that ruled him out of the Leicester City win.
“Daniel James is still injured, he’s got a small problem in his hamstring and was out in the last game, and will be out for the Southampton match as well.”
