SILVA’S BARKING AT MUN FOR SUCCESS

FULHAM boss Marco Silva is glad in-form Rodrigo Muniz is giving him a selection headache ahead of Aston Villa’s visit to Craven Cottage.

The 22-year-old Brazilian bagged a brace in the Cottagers’ confident 3-1 win over Bournemouth, one week after netting his first Premier League goal in the 2-2 draw with Burnley. With a near fully-fit squad, including Chelsea loanee Armando Broja, who will be eager to earn a first Fulham start, Silva finds himself with a difficult decision ahead of today’s meeting with Champions Leaguechasing Villa.

Silva said: “We are going to be a really demanding team for them, I really believe that, and of course some of our players they are in a really good individual moment.

“We took some decisions, we sold our main goalscorer (Aleksandar Mitrovic, in August), it was a chance for (Muniz, above) to be with our squad, and when you have a chance to play, you step in, you have to pop up and have to show your quality.

“Of course it’s really competitive, that position, with Armando here that is a player we really believe that came to help us and reach a different level.

“Rodrigo had the chance to play after the injury to Raul (Jimenez). He scored one goal, good display in 60 minutes, last week even better with two goals, and the way he played 70 minutes was really good for him.”

Silva has Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey back at his disposal, the pair of Nigeria internationals returning after being runners-up in the Africa Cup of Nations, while Jimenez is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Broja, on loan from the Blues until the end of the season, was snapped up as a quick replacement, and could be named in Silva’s starting XI for the first time after replacing Muniz against Burnley and Bournemouth.

Silva could also stick with Muniz, who rejoined Fulham after a difficult but character-building loan spell at Middlesbrough.