Fulham

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He started off with a squad fitness update: "We hope there is nothing new. As of now, we are going to have the same team as we did in the last two. Kenny [Tete], Harry Wilson and Reiss Nelson are still out."

• Silva says Willian will "be in contention" to play against Nottingham Forest upon his return to the club: "He's going to be in the squad list. Of course you have to go day by day with Willian to get the best from him. We know what he can give us and how we can help him to perform. It's difficult for me to say when we are going to have him at his best, but he is working hard."

• He says that he has always had faith in Rodrigo Muniz becoming a success at Craven Cottage: "In that moment [of signing him] I was really confident and I really asked the club to buy him. He didn't have a lot of senior matches in his legs, but I really believed that he was going to be important for us. He is still young and there is a lot more to come from him. If you can provide for him, he is a very good striker."

• Silva is expecting a close contest against high-flying Nottingham Forest on Saturday: "They are really strong on the counter-attack and if the game is completely open, then they can punish you. They are going to have a tough task to beat us at Craven Cottage because we are confident. It will probably be a tight game."

• On his relationship with fellow Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo: "We know each other from [our playing days], but much more in England than in Portugal. We have small conversations now. He is doing a great job."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Fulham have won four of their five Premier League games against Nottingham Forest, including both meetings at Craven Cottage, racking up an aggregate score of 7-0.

Nottingham Forest have benefitted from more errors that have led to a goal than any other side in the Premier League this season (13), while only Arsenal (zero) have made fewer errors leading to a goal than Nuno Espirito Santo's side (two).

Name this former Fulham manager from the following clues:

• I am one of the youngest men to manage a Premier League club;

• My first full season in charge of Fulham ended in a ninth-placed finish;

• As managed my country to the semi-finals of a major tournament.

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

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BBC Sport pundit and former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has been answering your questions on your club.

Tom asked: What realistically should the target for Fulham be? Should we be content with a Crystal Palace-style 40-plus points and 10th to 15th in the Premier League for over 10 years? Or should the recent success of our old Championship rivals Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest inspire us to look upward and challenge the establishment?

Nedum replied: Clubs should always be looking up. The reality is that 10th to 15th in the Premier League is fine, but a team like Fulham should be pushing for more.

Forest and Bournemouth are currently in a higher position, but it doesn't feel like they have played particularly better than Fulham in parts of this season.

From when I have spoken to him, Marco Silva is an ambitious manager and he is not willing to accept that everything is fine with a 15th-place finish. The club have got better players than that and the manager is better than that, plus they have a lot of experience and belief in the squad.

The majority of the players are internationals who know they are playing in a good side, so they too will have big aspirations for the league. Plus the club have continuity from recent seasons and that cannot be undermined.

Who is to say it is not going to be your year when the season starts? No-one.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Drew Heatley
Fan writer

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It has been quite the 12 months for Rodrigo Muniz.

This month marks a year since he announced his arrival in the Fulham first team, scoring four goals in four games during February 2024. He went on to score five more last season, picking up the Premier League's player of the month award for March and finishing as our top scorer.

He celebrated this weekend by scoring both goals against Wigan in the FA Cup. That double came a week after he helped us to our first league win at St James' Park in eight years, showing how valuable he is to us.

Muniz's FA Cup goals brought his tally to 16 in the past year - including strikes at Anfield and Etihad Stadium - a fine impact considering Marco Silva rotates the Brazilian with veteran Raul Jimenez in the number nine slot.

It is quite the change in fortune. As the song goes on the Craven Cottage terraces: "He went to Boro and didn't even start.". That loan spell on Teesside in 2022-23 produced just two goals in 17 appearances.

But Silva never doubted Muniz. Our manager was instrumental in his arrival from Flamengo as a 20-year-old in the summer of 2021. He handed him 25 appearances in our Championship-winning season of 2021-22, which he repaid with five goals, and he kept the faith with him despite 17 goalless games before his purple patch last season.

It is not just Rodrigo's goals endearing him to the Fulham faithful. His samba shuffles, permanent smile and friendships with his team-mates - including his idol and mentor, Willian, who recently returned to Craven Cottage - have firmly cemented Muniz as a cult hero on the banks of the Thames.

It looks like it is more of the same from Muniz as he starts his latest chapter. And I'm excited to see what is next.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external

The draw for the FA Cup fifth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties involving Premier League teams in the order they were drawn.

Games will be played over the first weekend of March.

• Aston Villa v Cardiff City

• Crystal Palace/Doncaster v Millwall

• Man Utd v Fulham

• Newcastle v Brighton

• Bournemouth v Wolves

• Man City v Plymouth

• Exeter/Nottingham Forest v Ipswich

See the full draw

Is there something you want to ask about a Premier League club?

Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha is ready to answer your burning questions and give his thoughts on some of the biggest talking points for a special Q&A.

Submit your questions here and come back on Thursday for his answers

Tom Gayle
Match of the Day commentator

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As a neutral, I struggled to recall a Fulham youngster who had progressed through their academy and established themselves as a first team regular. A quick back and forth over WhatsApp with a BBC colleague helped identify a consistent trend. Those who do emerge are quickly snapped up by 'bigger clubs'.

Patrick Roberts was in and around for the first team for two seasons before Manchester City came calling for the teenager in 2015. Harvey Elliott, at just 16, made three senior appearances in 2019 before transferring to Liverpool. Neither player was at the club long enough to hear the chant 'he's one of our own'. Fabio Carvalho was. His breakthrough 2021-22 campaign was in the Championship, during which he scored 10 goals and provided eight assists, helping Fulham secure promotion to the Premier League. After just one season the 19-year-old also opted to head north to Anfield.

The poster boy example from a Fulham perspective would be Ryan Sessegnon, who after making his debut as a16-year-old, subsequently went on to score 25 goals across 120 appearances, before a club record transfer sale to Tottenham during the same summer in which Elliott also left.

The evolution of Sessegnon, who re-joined the club this season, is a clear outlier. Fulham fans will be hoping their latest diamond to surface, Josh King, bucks the trend demonstrated by the majority of those previously outlined.

As with most young players who regularly find themselves amongst a Premier League match day squad, their technical ability goes without question. Yet watching on during Saturday's FA Cup win over Wigan, the aspect which immediately stood out to me was he simply didn't look like a teenager making only a second career start in senior football.

His impressive balance meant I could not recall him ever being pushed off the ball, unless fouled, in what was a very physical game. King, who turned 18 last month, never went missing, was constantly involved in the play, often leading the counter attack, and if not for a better Timothy Castagne cutback, the performance could have been topped off by scoring his first ever professional goal.

Fulham are not in a rush to make King a regular starter. Head Coach Marco Silva alluded to a calculated exposure to the first team environment. When speaking to me during his post-match interview Silva said: "Josh is a top talent we have on our hands that we have to keep giving these experiences to. I think he showed his quality, his bravery and the way he can play between the lines."

The noises suggest King is an asset Fulham want to retain. Competing for minutes alongside the likes of Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith-Rowe and Andreas Pereira will help Silva's plotted drip feed approach. However with the current laser sharp focus on clubs adhering to the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations, it would be naïve to think any home grown player is not for sale.

Tom Cairney is in his 10th season at Fulham. The club captain first met King back in 2018, when the then 11-year-old walked out onto the pitch with him as a club mascot. Cairney has played alongside Roberts, Elliott, Carvalho and Sessegnon, so has a firm understanding of whether or not a youngster can cut it at the elite level.

According to him "the sky's the limit" for King.

We asked for your views on Fulham's FA Cup match against Wigan.

Here are some of your comments:

Kevin: Yet again, a poor Fulham performance against a so-called lesser team. We lack directness and controlled aggression. Credit to Wigan for taking advantage of that. Fortunately we're through to the next round. Bring on a 'big' team!

Will: Any cup win is good and especially with such a rotated side. Great to see Muniz back in form.

Samuel: I believe that we did not get in the box as much as we should have since we relied on crosses to score goals like the first Muniz goal. We were lucky to have Benda in the squad since we were lacking defensively.

David: Fulham strolled through the first half, got sloppy in the second, and squeezed through in the end. Felt it was a low intensity performance overall but happy with the win.

Martin: It doesn't matter how you play, it's about winning and being in the next round draw.

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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Fulham travelled to the Brick Community Stadium having exited the FA Cup fourth round in four of the previous five seasons, and they needed to survive a late Wigan onslaught to avoid another early exit on Saturday.

The Cottagers dominated the first half and should perhaps have led by more than Rodrigo Muniz's header at the break.

A second Fulham goal seemed only a matter of time early in the second half, but Jonny Smith's stunning strike - Wigan's first shot on target - changed the complexion of the tie.

Muniz restored the visitors' advantage not long afterwards, but Wigan soon regrouped and went close to a second equaliser when Ronan Darcy curled a shot wide from the edge of the box.

Issa Diop almost put through his own net and Scott Smith forced a fine save out of Steven Benda, before Darcy had a late goal ruled out for offside.

In the end, Fulham held on by the skin of their teeth to confirm their place in the fifth round.

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Marco Silva spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Fulham's victory against Wigan: "It was a tough game. As I said before the match, you get nothing as a guarantee at this level. We were the favourites and I think we showed that throughout the game but the last 15 minutes we showed them they could fight for something. I don't remember one shot from them in the first 45 minutes. We had two or three chances to kill the game and we didn't and of course when the game is 1-0, anything can happen and they have belief.

"It was a great strike for the equaliser but a good reaction from us. When it was the moment to keep more of the ball in the last 15 minutes, we should have kept it a lot more. It was open and we didn't want that because we gave them belief. It was a tough one but I think we deserved the win and deserve to be in the next stage."

On the battle for a starting spot between Rodrigo Muniz and Raul Jimenez: "It has been a great fight between him and Raul Jimenez, great competition, healthy competition. Every single day they are trying to help each other but they know the most important thing is the team. Both are in a great moment. The last game against Newcastle is a good example. It is a good situation for us so let's keep working hard with them and it's up to me who starts the next game."

On youngsters Martial Godo and Josh King: "They are players we believe and trust. We have to give them this experience for them to grow. Martial has had some senior football last season already and it made him grow in a good way. Josh is a top talent we have on our hands that we have to keep giving these experiences too. I think he showed his quality, his bravery and the way he can play between the lines."

Tell us your thoughts on the match here

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Have your say on Fulham's performance

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Nine Premier League teams are competing in Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Leyton Orient v Man City (12:15) - watch on BBC One and listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Coventry v Ipswich

• Everton v Bournemouth

• Southampton v Burnley

• Wigan v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Birmingham v Newcastle (17:45) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Brighton v Chelsea (20:00) - watch on BBC One and listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

Wigan Athletic boss Shaun Maloney says he learned a lot about management from Fulham boss Marco Silva when he played under him at Hull City, but I am surprised he has not said the same about me.

Shaun had an outstanding playing career, and he has a lot to thank me for about that - I helped him a lot when he was a youngster at Celtic, both technically and psychologically.

Being serious, fair play to him for the job he has done at Wigan because he has had a lot to contend with there. He also had a tough time in charge of Hibs, where he was wrongly sacked and was not given long enough.

So, I have a lot of admiration for what Shaun has done as a manager and Wigan are doing all right under him, but this is a tough game for them.

Fulham are like Bournemouth in that they are in the top half of the Premier League and I want to see them give the FA Cup a real go.

We talked about Silva's side on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club this week actually, as having a brilliant bench that can make a contribution most weeks.

At the start of the season I thought Fulham's home form was impressive but it has dropped off recently, and it is their away form that is exceptional at the moment.

I think they will carry that on in the FA Cup, and they will be too strong for Wigan.

This game could see twin brothers Ryan and Steven Sessegnon play against each other for the first time in their careers - Ryan for Fulham and Steven for Wigan.

I played against my younger brother, John, when we were both up in Scotland and he tried to kick me but did not get near me - it was a bit like when we played each other in the garden when we were kids, although I was 10 years older than him.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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The fifth-round draw will take place during Monday's episode of The One Show on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Former England winger Theo Walcott, who won the trophy twice while with Arsenal, will conduct the draw at about 19:10 GMT.

There are 16 Premier League teams left in the draw, with Leicester having been beaten by Manchester United on Friday, and Arsenal, Brentford and West Ham exiting in the third round.

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at League One side Wigan (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Silva described the returning Willian as a "top professional" and said: "It's going to take probably two or three weeks for him to be in the best shape he can because he has not played for the past month. At his age, you have to be careful. As a footballer, he fits really well with how we want to play."

• Silva added: "He was an important player for us for the past two seasons - he helped the club achieve important things. Now he is back and let's hope in 15-20 days we can have him back at his best level, that he can keep enjoying the Premier League and he can embrace the challenge he has ahead of him. If he's there, he will help us be stronger and help his team-mates on the pitch."

• Wigan are managed by Shaun Maloney, a player Silva managed at Hull City: "He always had an eye on everything we were doing. I had very good chats with him. Most of the times at the end of sessions, he would ask questions of me and all my staff. You could feel it was clear in his mind to try to get the chance to be a coach."

• On Ryan Sessegnon who could come up against his twin brother Steven: "For sure they have been speaking [before the game]! It's going to be another great connection and coincidence from the game, as well as my connection with the opposition manager. Even the situation of Martial [Godo], who had a good spell last season there [at Wigan]."

• Reiss Nelson has suffered an injury setback. He had returned to training after recovering from an injury to one leg but has now injured the other leg. Silva expects him to be out for several more weeks.

• On his FA Cup hopes: "We are full of ambition for this competition. It is a really special competition and something I used to see on television when I was really young. There are always surprises and you don't want to be part of these surprises."

• He continued: "Nobody is going to underestimate Wigan because it's always tough to play in the FA Cup away from home. You have to be really serious in your approach. Everybody is completely focused in their role and our ambitions for the game."

Read a recap of Thursday's FA Cup news conferences and football news

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We asked for your views on the re-signing of Willian.

Here are some of your comments:

Michael: No-one can ever doubt Willian's skill or the impact he has on other players. It's a shame he went but let's welcome the contribution he can make for the rest of the season.

Ollie: Genius signing! Filling the gap left by 35-year-old Willian with 36-year-old Willian. Come on your Whites!

Barry: Great player but not the future for Fulham. I'm sure when asked about Willian, Marco Silva said he had enough wingers. With 14 games in the Premier League left, who is gaining from this?

Charlie: His experience will be very beneficial. When he comes on, he will make any opposition manager change formation because of the danger he brings. Happy to see him back and the lessons he can bring for the younger lads like Joshua King. Overall, he will be a very positive signing.

Will: I suppose its better than nothing, but we really should have got more than a 36-year-old on a free. We had links with the likes of Samuel Chukwueze, and didn't go through with it. I'm not sure if this squad can get us to Europe, but if it does, we will need a lot more players to deal with extra games.

Kevin: Will always be a great player. Gives 100% and makes things happen.

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Fulham have re-signed Brazilian winger Willian on a contract until the end of the season.

The 36-year-old, who was with Fulham for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, was a free agent after leaving Greek club Olympiakos recently.

"I'm really happy to be back here," said the former Chelsea player. "I think it's a great opportunity again to play for this club, and I'm fully motivated to get on the pitch and do things well for this club.

"I'm completely happy, my family's happy. We are happy to be back and I think we can do good things until the end of the season, so I can't wait to start with my team-mates and do good things inside the pitch."

What do you make of Willian's return? Are you happy he is back at Craven Cottage?

Send us your thoughts