Fulham’s 3-1 defeat at Bournemouth on Friday not only highlighted their fragility in attack but also deepened a growing injury crisis that manager Marco Silva fears could derail their season.
Silva entered the campaign frustrated by missed opportunities in the market, and as injuries mount, that lack of depth is being ruthlessly exposed.
Sasa Lukic’s early withdrawal at the Vitality Stadium, following an on-pitch injury in the opening 14 minutes, left Silva describing the setback as a “difficult moment” for his side. With Rodrigo Muniz and Raul Jimenez both unavailable, Fulham travelled without a recognised striker and relied on stop-gaps in forward positions.
Silva’s attacking headache
Muniz, who had just signed a new five-year deal, remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained before the Aston Villa clash. Silva admitted he hopes to have him back before the November international break. Jimenez, meanwhile, continues his recovery from a hip problem picked up against Villa.
“Rodrigo – let’s see if we can have him back before the November international break. Raul won’t play for his national team. Let’s see if we can have him back soon. We are helping Jonah. We have to react as a team.” — Marco Silva
That left 18-year-old Jonah Kusi-Asare, a Deadline Day loan signing from Bayern Munich, as the only available centre-forward. Yet Silva resisted handing him a Premier League debut against Bournemouth, insisting the teenager needs more time to adapt.
Fulham’s injury list
- Sasa Lukic (unspecified): Injured vs Bournemouth, unlikely to travel with Serbia.
- Rodrigo Muniz (hamstring): Target return before November international break.
- Raul Jimenez (hip): Out since Villa defeat, timeframe unclear.
- Kenny Tete (knee): No surgery needed, but doubtful for Arsenal clash after the break.
- Harrison Reed: Left out against Bournemouth for technical reasons, could return.
New signing Samuel Chukwueze at least offered a bright spark, assisting Ryan Sessegnon’s opener at Bournemouth. But the lack of attacking options is stark, with Fulham suffering back-to-back defeats heading into the break.
Fulham 2025/26 snapshot
| Stat (2025/26) | Fulham |
|---|---|
| Premier League Position | 14 |
| Games Played | 7 |
| Points | 8 |
| Consecutive Defeats | 2 |
source: club data & Premier League – 6 October 2025
These numbers underline Fulham’s precarious position: a mid-table side with little margin for error, now stretched thin by injuries.
Analyst verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William believes the summer window has come back to haunt Silva: “Fulham didn’t land the depth they needed, particularly in attack. The reliance on Muniz and Jimenez was always a gamble, and with both sidelined, Silva is effectively without a frontline.”
He added: “The decision not to throw Kusi-Asare in immediately is understandable, but it leaves Fulham blunt in attack. Unless reinforcements arrive in January, they may struggle to find goals if injuries persist.”
Key insights
- Fulham suffered back-to-back defeats heading into the break.
- Lukic, Muniz, Jimenez, and Tete are all sidelined with injuries.
- Kusi-Asare is Fulham’s only fit striker but is yet to debut.
- Silva criticised a lack of summer signings to cover key positions.
- Chukwueze impressed off the bench, assisting Sessegnon’s goal.
What’s next for Fulham?
The international break offers breathing space, but Fulham resume with a daunting home clash against Arsenal on 18 October. Without Muniz or Jimenez, Silva may have little choice but to trust Kusi-Asare sooner rather than later.
The January transfer window could be decisive, but for now, Silva must patch together a competitive squad and hope injuries clear. Fulham’s survival in the middle of the table may hinge on reinforcements — or whether their fragile squad can hold together until then.
👉 Has Marco Silva been let down by Fulham’s summer transfer window — or should he be braver in trusting his young striker?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 6 Oct 2025 12:41
Yes he's been let down to get players, but even then Fulham were very late in the window to get players. The best thing is to start the pre-season with all the new players.
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