Silva hopes for Basham return after surgery

Fulham manager Marco Silva has backed Chris Basham to return to football after requiring two operations to repair the leg he injured during Sheffield United's defeat at Craven Cottage.

Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom said on Thursday the injury was "not career-ending" and Silva said the 35-year-old's conduct since it happened "shows his character as a professional".

"It was really tough to see," said Silva. "You could tell straight away from the reaction of the players that it was something really serious.

"It is really tough when a professional footballer suffers something like that. For sure, he will need people around him to support him and keep him strong.

"The way he has reacted on social media shows his character as a professional and is a really good sign that we could see him on the pitch as soon as we can."