Disappointment: Marco Silva
Rodrigo Muniz is set to be out until the new year with a hamstring injury.
Muniz, who will undergo surgery in the coming days, was withdrawn just 17 minutes after his introduction from the bench during Fulham’s 2-0 defeat to Everton last weekend.
The Brazilian had only just returned from another hamstring issue, which saw him miss four games across September and October.
Muniz has injured the same leg, and the 24-year-old is now set to miss at least eight matches before the turn of the year, including the Cottagers’ Carabao Cup quarter-final against Newcastle.
Fulham, who are contending with a mounting injury list, face three games in six days at the start of January, which Muniz is also likely to miss.
The striker’s absence means Marco Silva has just two senior centre-forwards to pick from, with Raul Jimenez, who has only just returned from injury himself, and 18-year-old Jonah Kusi-Asare expected to step up.
Former Wolves star Jimenez has struggled for fitness and form this term, while Silva has publicly said teenager Kusi-Asare, signed on loan from Bayern Munich on Deadline Day, is not yet ready to start in the Premier League.
Fulham sit one point above the relegation zone and could enter the transfer market for a new striker in January, depending on the speed at which Muniz recovers from surgery.
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Muniz enjoyed another productive campaign last season, scoring 11 goals in all competitions.
He had been expected to become Fulham’s first-choice striker after a number of impressive cameo performances last year.