Fulham boss calls for ‘togetherness’ despite depleted squad to face Everton

Fulham manager Marco Silva has stressed the need for “togetherness” from his undersized squad as they face a tricky start to the new Premier League season.

Three of the Cottagers’ first four top-flight fixtures are away from home, with Saturday’s trip to Everton followed by visits to last term’s runners-up Arsenal and champions Manchester City.

Fulham have signed Calvin Bassey and Raul Jimenez this summer and look set to hold on to Aleksandar Mitrovic despite interest from other clubs, but Silva has made it clear to the board that he needs more new arrivals.

“It doesn’t change anything in our preparation,” Silva said when asked about the early-season fixture list.

“Sometimes you think it’s going to be more difficult to play against teams that finished in the top of the table and if you don’t pay attention for the others it will be the first mistake you make.

“For us the focus is on the Everton match. It’s always difficult that type of game, to play there at Goodison first game of the season and of course after that we talk and think about Brentford and all the others.

“We are not thinking about Arsenal or City or what’s to come after, we have to keep focus on our preparation. (Pre-season) was not great in terms of numbers to prepare really for the first match of the season.

“Normally I would not start to think about other games and even more now, because we need everybody really together and to focus on the Everton match.”

Fulham finished 10th in the Premier League last season on their return to the top flight, but Silva was reluctant to reveal his targets for this campaign until the transfer window closes.

“One of the reasons why we did it (last season) was the quality, the way we played week in and week out, but behind that of course was the commitment, the desire, the ambition the group of players showed to me,” Silva added.

“Of course we have to get those standards again because if you are not there it will be much more difficult.

“For Fulham we know our targets, we cannot hide. Probably six or seven clubs are in a different level and all the other clubs, if they are not really competitive, they can be in trouble.

“It’s difficult to predict what is going to be. We know what our goals are but, to be honest, I would like to tell you after the end of the (transfer) market.”

Joao Palhinha will miss the trip to Everton after failing to fully recover from a shoulder injury suffered during pre-season.

Silva also has doubts over Andreas Pereira and Tom Cairney and said the pair would be assessed further before naming his squad for the trip to Merseyside.

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