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Fulham striker Luis Boa Morte |
Luis Boa Morte has been passed fit for Fulham's first leg game with Hertha Berlin in Germany tomorrow night.
The winger suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty with Portugal last week and was forced to sit out Saturday's 3-2 victory against Liverpool at Loftus Road. Boa Morte passed his fitness test on Sunday.
Barry Hayles has been ruled out for at least three more weeks because of a neck injury.
"He has been told to rest for at least three more weeks and keep away from full contact training," said a club spokesman. "Hopefully that will do the trick but we'll have to wait and see."
Louis Saha has been sent to France in order to undergo rehabilitation work on his hamstring injury ahead of a possible return in February.
The French striker, who had surgery two weeks ago, has now had the stitches removed and will attend an intensive treatment clinic in his homeland before returning to Motspur Park next month.
Fulham (from):
Van der Sar, Finnan, Knight, Goma, Brevett, Goldbaek, Clark, Djetou, Davis, Malbranque, Sava, Inamoto, Marlet, Melville, Boa Morte, Taylor.
Hertha Berlin
A few weeks back Berlin would have been odds-on favourites for this UEFA Cup third-round first leg. It's now even beween the two sides.
A series of injuries in recent weeks then led to a burnout effect, several players appeared to be on their last legs. Apart from their 4-0 win over Apoel Nicosia in the second-round and a promising first half against Hannover 96, Hertha have failed to impress in recent weeks.
Berlin's manager Huub Stevens' main worries for Tuesday's game are German international defenders Arne Freidrich and Marko Rehmer. Dutchman Dick van Burik could make his long awaited comeback after making a full recovery from his Achilles tendon complaint. World Cup winner Luizao (lacerated calf) and Andreas Zecke Neuendorf (suspended) definitely won't make the teamsheet.
Hertha Berlin:
Kiraly - Friedrich, Sverrisson (Tretschok), NenĂª - Dardai, Schmidt, Beinlich - Marcelinho - Karwan, Alves, Goor