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Fulham manager Roy Hodgson faces selection questions

last updated Saturday 10th April 2010, 2:44 PM
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
     
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Fulham manager Roy Hodgson will make several changes to his side.

Bobby Zamora is doubtful with an Achilles injury and Simon Davies could miss out after he picked up a rib injury in Thursday night's 1-0 win over Wolfsburg.

Clint Dempsey is ruled out with a thigh injury but David Elm could be available if he overcomes the virus which hospitalised him last weekend.

Hodgson insists he will continue with his controversial policy of resting players for Barclays Premier League matches.

The trip to Anfield will be the Cottagers' 55th game of a gruelling season which began with a Europa League qualifier against Vetra back in July.

The Cottagers' remarkable European campaign shows no sign of slowing after they beat Wolfsburg on Thursday night to set up a semi-final clash with Hamburg.

Should Hodgson's team progress to the final, they will end up playing 63 matches by the end of the season, by far the most of any team in the Premier League.

The results in Fulham's games against Wolves, Everton and Arsenal could have a significant impact on the standings at both ends of the table at the end of the season and West Ham have already lodged a complaint against Hodgson for fielding a depleted side against Hull.

A potential £25,000 fine will not deter Hodgson from sticking to his rotation policy, however.

He said: "The Wolfsburg game was our 54th of the season, so for any team that's a big ask and for a team like ours, who haven't had experience of European football, it's been very demanding on a small group of players.

"League survival was our priority. Now we have 41 points we've had a good season in the league and I honestly don't believe we'll be relegated now or reach the top places so the league must now take second place to the cup.

"We'll have to look at the situation on Sunday. We had one or two players pick up knocks in the Wolfsburg game but luckily we are getting more and more players back.''

Fulham defender Brede Hangeland is confident that fatigue will not be a problem, saying: "We have performed in league matches straight after playing in big European games so I'm confident we'll be able to do the same again on Sunday.''







































































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