Arsenal v Fulham
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Fulham have been dealt a significant setback after Arsenal loanee Reiss Nelson was ruled out for up to 12 weeks with a hamstring injury. The winger, who had recently established himself in Marco Silva’s starting XI, sustained the injury during Fulham’s 3-1 victory over Brighton on Thursday.
Initial scans revealed the injury was worse than first feared, sidelining Nelson for much of the demanding festive period. Even in the most optimistic scenarios, his return to action is not expected until early 2025. Speaking ahead of Fulham’s clash with Liverpool, manager Marco Silva confirmed the extended absence.
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“Joachim [Andersen], Harrison Reed, and Reiss Nelson are out,” Silva stated. “Reiss will be out for probably around 10 weeks. It’s difficult to give precise timings in this situation, but it will be a longer spell.”
Reiss Nelson injury
Reiss Nelson sustained his hamstring injury against Brighton in the the Premier League (Image credit: Getty Images)
Despite the packed fixture schedule, Silva may feel equipped to handle Nelson’s absence if further injuries don’t impact his attacking options. Adama Traoré, Alex Iwobi, and Harry Wilson have all featured on the left flank this season, while Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon offer additional versatility. Sessegnon, however, is yet to play significant minutes since his return to Craven Cottage.
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The injury is a particularly bitter blow for Nelson, who had finally begun to revive his career after years of limited playing time. The 25-year-old had already played 488 minutes in a Fulham shirt—more than in the past three Premier League seasons combined.
During his loan spell, he contributed two goals and an assist, thriving in Fulham’s attacking system, which has propelled the team to 10th in the table, just four points off the top four.
Nelson had previously spoken of his enjoyment at Craven Cottage, citing the attacking philosophy under Silva and the support of teammates like Antonee Robinson. “I feel like it’s bringing out all the good things that I need to do on the pitch,” he said in October. “It’s helped me so much, and it’s good for my development.”
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