Fulham boss Marco Silva appeared to hint Aleksandar Mitrovic is fit to face Newcastle United after images emerged of the Serbia striker with a bandage strapped around his foot on international duty. The former Magpies forward featured in both of his country's games over the break as they earned Nations League promotion following wins over Sweden and Norway.
However, after notching in Tuesday's 2-0 win against the latter, Mitrovic left the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo with strapping around his right ankle. The 28-year-old is said to have suffered a slight knock in the first group game against Sweden before soldiering on for a further 90 minutes against Erling Haaland's Norway.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Silva hinted Mitrovic will be available to face his former club at Craven Cottage this weekend. "He doesn't need to play against Newcastle to be motivated," the Portuguese coach said.
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"He's always motivated to play in the Fulham shirt or for the national team. He’s not just a goal scorer for us he is much more important than that. He will keep helping his team, and the national team, with goals and assists."
Mitrovic scored his 50th Serbia goal this week before enjoying a post-match pizza in the dressing room to celebrate. The next time he pulls on a national jersey will be to face Bruno Guimaraes and Brazil at the World Cup, before coming up against Switzerland's Fabian Schar days later.
This weekend will see the former St James' Park striker come up against former club team-mates as he looks to continue his fine form in front of goal. Mitrovic failed to hold down a regular starting role on Tyneside and ex-Newcastle star Mohamed Diame admits his old friend was right to leave in search of more game time.
"When you see the love Mitro had from the fans, I think he badly wanted to stay at Newcastle and enjoy every weekend with the fans because he had a very strong connection with them," Diame told Chronicle Live this week. "He was sad to leave, of course, but, as a football player, you always want to play so he had to go. You can see he's still scoring goals everywhere so I'm happy for him.
"Maybe some people have got doubts, but people who have been with him in the dressing room don't have doubts when training with him every day about what he can do. If there's one striker you don't want to play against, it's Mitro."
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