Fulham head coach Marco Silva has praised Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey ahead of the Cottagers’ clash against Manchester United, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian defender was on target the last time both sides met, and will be looking to get on the scoresheet at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Fulham full-back Antonee Robinson has been injured since May and is still in recovery after undergoing surgery.
Bassey filled in for the American against Brighton and Hove Albion in the opening Premier League gameweek last weekend and put in a solid shift. The former Rangers man could be in contention to start in the same role on Sunday.
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Ryan Sessegnon, who can also fit in at left back, is struggling with an injury, which hints that Bassey will most likely start out wide against Ruben Amorim’s side on Sunday.
“We have to wait and see,” Silva said when asked about Jedi and Sess’ fitness. “We just finished one session now, and we are going to have another one tomorrow,” the former Watford manager said in quotes revealed by Fulham official website.
“We have to take a decision related to both players. They are very important for us, but at the same time, we don’t want to take any risk of losing them for longer.
“Different situations – Robinson is coming back from a surgery, he’s training with the team, but you have to make a decision, and Sessegnon, he felt something in the last friendly game against Eintracht.
“We didn’t want to take a risk last week. Let’s see how he is going to be in the last session before the game, and then we are going to decide.”
The former Everton manager maintained that Bassey was superb against Brighton, but mentioned that the other options he has, which are currently injured, offer more in attack.
“If not, Calvin did so, so, so well, a great, great performance at left-back, and I think we are more than covered in that position, because even [Jorge] Cuenca can play there.
“Of course, they are both different. If you have Robinson or Sessegnon, then you have a more offensive dynamic and mobility on the left-hand side,” the 48-year-old concluded.
Bassey’s versatility means he can feature as a full-back for Eric Chelle in the coming games, depending on how the opposition sets up.
The Super Eagles are yet to have the left-back position nailed down by any player in the past few years, as they’ve not been as consistent when given the opportunity.