No Mitro? No worry for Marco

Silva: Our team is full of goals

PRESTON FULHAM

BY TONY BANKS

FULHAM manager Marco Silva insists he is not panicking at the prospect of being without scoring sensation Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Serbia striker has hit 21 goals this season to top the scoring charts across all four divisions, with his team a point clear at the top. And he is on course to smash the goalscoring record for the division set by Brentford’s Ivan Toney last year with 31.

But Mitrovic, along with five other Fulham players, missed Wednesday’s disappointing goalless draw against Derby and is doubtful for today’s clash with Preston at Deepdale, after a sickness bug swept Silva’s squad during the week.

Young Brazilian Rodrigo Muniz, who has three goals in eight games this season, is set to step in again – but Silva insists there are enough goals in his team without Mitrovic.

The Fulham boss (above) said: “Of course Mitro’s numbers are fantastic, but we are spreading the goals as well as we can. I want more but we will get more.

“If you see the numbers of Neeskens Kebano, who has four goals, and you look at his story at this club, I am sure that at the end of this season he will score more than in these past years.

“Harry Wilson – I know that when we finish the season his goals and assists for a winger will be very good. Fabio Carvalho has already scored four at 19 years old, from only nine games.

“The goals are there. Of course I want more, more from set-pieces. I am demanding that. But we are creating chances.”

Silva added: “Rodrigo is working very hard every single day. He is learning. Everything is different from Brazil, but he is open-minded trying to get everything right.

“Being the second option can be good for him, because it gives him more time to keep improving.

“He has tough competition in this squad. If the other striker is scoring that is good for the team. He knows that, but he is ready when we need him.”