Ross Jones

Fri 10 July 2020 8:30, UK

Fulham manager Scott Parker has cast doubt over whether captain Tom Cairney will be available to face West Brom when the two sides meet on Tuesday evening. 

The Baggies face Blackburn Rovers on Saturday before going toe-to-toe with the Whites next week in a clash that could be decisive in their promotion bid.

But Parker has confirmed that his skipper will miss Friday’s meeting with Cardiff City, and will need further assessment to ascertain whether or not he can feature against Albion.

Speaking in a press conference on Thursday, he said: “Tom’s still struggling at the moment, he won’t be available for tomorrow.

“It’s day to day really with Tom, the problem is that the games are literally only two or three days [apart]. The turnaround is pretty quick.

“I don’t think it’s a big one, it’s not one which we’re too concerned about, but the dynamics of the division and the games schedule means you’re missing games with just a week’s injury, or a 10 day injury you can be missing three or four games.

“We’ll manage it every day and see where we are [against West Brom].”

This could be a real boost for West Brom.

Of course, regardless of whether or not Cairney plays, Bilic will approach the game with the same mentality and desire to win.

But knowing that Fulham could be without their on-field leader, a player who has hit eight goals and three assists in 37 Championship outings should fill the Baggies with a little extra confidence.

Following on from the win over Derby County in midweek, six points on our next two games would leave us at least five points clear of the play-offs with just two games to go.

At that stage, it would take the most shocking capitulation imaginable for us to miss out on a return to the Premier League.

In other West Brom news, Albion could be invited to play for silverware at Wembley next month.

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