Ranieri not downbeat
Fulham Coach Claudio Ranieri will give some of his fringe players an opportunity on Sunday, but is wary of the banana-skin nature of the tie.
Fulham welcome League Two outfit Oldham Athletic to Craven Cottage in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup, and Ranieri knows which side the pressure will be on.
“Oldham won their last two matches,” he said in Friday’s press conference. “They changed the coach and they have everything to win and nothing to lose. And vice versa, we have all to lose and nothing to win.
“I’ll give a chance to some players who aren’t used to playing every match. I want to give to them a very good opportunity to show their qualities to me, and also in front of our supporters.
“The FA Cup is a wonderful cup. But of course in this moment for us, the Premier League is very, very important.
“Our confidence could of course be higher, but they are confident, they train very well, they are positive, and this is very, very important for me.”
One man who will certainly miss our meeting with the Latics is Alfie Mawson after he picked up an injury against Huddersfield Town last week, and Ranieri will not be rushing him back until he’s 100 per cent fit.
He said: “I don’t know when he’ll come back, but everything is done, he’s already begun his rehabilitation, and then we’ll see. It’s difficult to say how long, it’s important he recovers well.”