Fabri is surprise choice to grab the gloves for Fulham

FULHAM goalkeeper Fabri is set to win the race to start the season as Slavisa Jokanovic’s No 1. Cottagers boss Jokanovic is facing a huge dilemma in keeping his three senior goalkeepers happy over the coming weeks, but is ready to give Fabri (right) — a summer signing from Besiktas — the nod for their return to the Premier League when they face Crystal Palace today. Sergio Rico, who arrived from Sevilla on loan on deadline day, was expected to be the club’s first-choice keeper. But the 24-year-old, who has been a regular in La Liga, will have to settle for a place on the sidelines having trained just once with his new team.

Sportsmail has learned Rico speaks little English which poses a major problem for Jokanovic with regard to communication. The future of Marcus Bettinelli, who was expecting to be first choice this season after playing a key role in last season’s promotion, is now in doubt. Bettinelli is on England manager Gareth Southgate’s radar, but a call-up depends on him playing regularly. On his side’s return to the Premier League, Jokanovic said: ‘Our principle objective and target must be to stay up. ‘We still haven’t started the competition and I prefer walking step by step. We will have more information after the first game, it is better to think this way and we will see our level at the end of the season. ‘Our first target must be to stay up. We are starting to build a team to try and be competitive at this level.’