Fulham player has picked up injury – Further tests on way in London
Fulham's Calvin Bassey will miss Nigeria's matches this month after suffering a setback.
The centre-back will return to London, to work on his recovery with the Premier League side.
Fulham signed him from Ajax for €21m in July 2023 and he has been a regular since then.
The 26-year-old has so far played 94 matches for Marco Silva's side and 2,018 minutes are from 25 matches from this season.
Bassey's stats per game from the Premier League are as follows:
Interceptions: 0.7
Tackles: 2.0
Clearances: 3.5
Ball recovered: 4.0
Dribbled past: 0.3
Duels won: 4.9
The player has been a regular for the national team since moving to Fulham and Nigeria manager Éric Chelle called him up for the ongoing international break.
Lack of clarity on Fulham man's injury
The Nigerian football association took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to confirm Fulham defender Calvin Bassey's setback. Trabzonspor's Chibuike Nwaiwu will take his place in the squad to face Iran later today.
The post also includes a creative showing Nwaiwu 'in' and Bassey 'out' and that's 'due to an injury'. There has been no further communication around the former Ajax man's setback.
In other words, the Nigerian FA haven't given any information on the nature of the injury, how he suffered this setback and how long he could be out on the sidelines. Own Goal Nigeria are reporting his withdrawal was due to a back injury.
The defender will now likely return to Fulham, who will carry out further tests. Marco Silva's side should provide an update on his injury situation in the next few days.
Fulham's next fixture is against Liverpool at Anfield on April 11th and Silva would hope for the Nigerian to be fit for this clash.
Bassey also needs to soon regain fitness if he wishes to secure a move elsewhere in the summer. Earlier in the season, his club teammate, Kenny Tete, said Fulham aren't his final destination.
https://sportwitness.co.uk/nt-confirm-fulham-players-withdrawal-due-to-injury-lack-of-communication-on-setback/
What's going on with Antonee Robinson?
It's been a tough campaign for our former POTS.
Antonee Robinson had established himself as one of the finest left-backs in the Premier League — and arguably in Europe – heading into this season.
The United States international was named Fulham's Player of the Season for 2023/24 after registering six assists in 37 league appearances, then raised the bar again by setting up 10 goals in one fewer game the following campaign.
A relentless presence down the left, he stretched play and delivered a constant stream of dangerous balls into the box. Defensively, his pace and reading of the game allowed him to recover quickly and rack up interceptions, while regularly keeping the league's best right-wingers quiet.
But this season has been a struggle. With 15 league appearances and no goal involvements, Robinson has yet to reach those previous heights, appearing to have lost a yard going forward while looking more vulnerable defensively.
So what has gone wrong for the 28 year old?
The injury
The downturn in Antonee Robinson's form can be traced largely to a knee problem that required surgery last summer.
The issue started in October 2024 when Jedi suffered a dead leg on the top of his knee while on international duty with the USMNT. It wasn't noted at the time, but the knock caused the tendon to "slightly split" and the "bleed led to calcification," as the full-back described a year later.
Robinson developed tendinopathy in the knee but played through the pain from November 2025 until the end of the 2024/25 campaign with Fulham.
Doctors confirmed the injury wouldn't completely heal without surgery, so just days after the season ended, Robinson underwent a procedure to "scrape out the calcification and kind of clean the area out," he said. Fulham confirmed the surgery was a success on 28 May 2025.
After missing the first matchday squad of this season, Robinson went on to feature for a combined 61 minutes from the bench over the next six Premier League games, playing a full 90 minutes in the League Cup during that time as he built his fitness back up.
But after suffering a setback with the same knee, Robinson would miss the next two months and eight league games.
Finally making his return against Burnley in December, the former Wigan defender went on to start the next 10 matches, playing the full 90 minutes in seven of them.
He then missed the next four — an unused substitute in three and sidelined by a minor knock in the other — but has since started the last three league games.
But the sharpness that once defined his game has yet to fully return. Given the surgery, time spent sidelined and the challenge of rebuilding match fitness, that drop-off is perhaps no surprise.
The Sess factor
Fan favourite Ryan Sessegnon, in his second season at Craven Cottage since rejoining the club in 2024, has deputised admirably at left-back this term whenever Robinson has been unavailable, featuring 28 times so far across all competitions.
The academy graduate has proved a valuable asset for Marco Silva, allowing Robinson's minutes to be carefully managed.
The 25-year-old has even notched five goal contributions, providing energy and impetus to the side. At the moment, there's a case to be made that Fulham are a better side with Sessegnon in it.
When Sess replaced Robinson after an hour in their recent home game against Burnley, Fulham were trailing. But the substitute's attacking threat down the left, something that had been lacking from his teammate, contributed to a 2-1 comeback.
Given the level of Ryan Sessegnon's performances this season, the competition for the left-back spot could yet elevate both players over the remainder of the campaign.
It may even have longer-term benefits next season should he sign a new deal at his boyhood club – with his current contract set to expire this summer.
A blessing in disguise?
It should not be understated just how high Robinson's level was before injury. With few high-quality, out-and-out left-backs available in the market, it was no surprise that bigger clubs were circling the Fulham man.
While his reduced availability and dip in form have not helped Fulham, it may increase the likelihood of him staying at Craven Cottage by potentially deterring other clubs. As he continues to rebuild fitness for the rest of this season and over the 2026 World Cup, there remains a strong chance he can return to his previous level next campaign.
That said, Manchester United are reportedly monitoring him as a potential option this summer. If a move is to materialise, then — with Robinson turning 29 in August — this may represent Fulham's best opportunity to command a decent fee.
Signed for just £2m in 2020 and under contract until 2028, he remains a valuable asset.
https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/whats-going-on-with-antonee-robinson
Confirmed: Super Eagles XI vs. Iran – Fulham, Udinese, Paris FC stars in Nigeria's lineup
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has unveiled his starting lineup for Nigeria's friendly match against Iran scheduled for Antalya, Turkey, Soccernet.ng reports.
It is the Super Eagles' first match since beating Egypt's Pharaohs on penalties to claim the bronze medal at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in January.
With Nigeria no longer in the qualifying race for the 2026 World Cup, these friendlies only serve as tune-up games ahead of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers later in the year.
With Calvin Bassey and Victor Osimhen unavailable, Chelle has opted for a blend of returning stars and established personnel in his first eleven to face the Lions of Iran.
In goal, Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye gets the nod ahead of Francis Uzoho. Okoye is making his first Super Eagles appearance since helping Nigeria to a 1-1 draw against Russia last June.
The former Watford shot-stopper missed the 2025 AFCON where Stanley Nwabali was the undisputed number one.
Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi and Bruno Onyemaechi slot into the back four as they did against Egypt in Morocco with Slavia centre-back Igoh Ogbu replacing the injured Calvin Bassey.
Besiktas enforcer Wilfred Ndidi and Fulham playmaker Alex Iwobi have been tasked with holding forte in midfield for the Super Eagles. The duo were particularly impressive in that role at the AFCON.
Paris FC winger Moses Simon and Fulham ace Samuel Chukwueze are the preferred options for Chelle out on the flanks.
2024 Africa Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman and Sevilla star Akor Adams lead the attack as the Super Eagles seek to end their mini goal drought.
After smashing 14 goals in their first five games at the AFCON, Nigeria's attack was kept quiet by Morocco and Egypt in the decisive stages.
Confirmed Super Eagles starting XI (4-2-2-2):
Okoye; Osayi-Samuel, Ogbu, Ajayi, Onyemaechi; Ndidi, Iwobi; Simon, Chukwueze; Adams, Lookman.
Super Eagles stars on the bench
On the bench, Chelle can call on Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu, the leading goalscorer in the Turkish Super Lig.
The trio of Philip Otele, Yira Sor and Emmanuel Fernandez will also be eager to make their international debut from the bench at some point during the encounter.
Goalkeepers Adeleye Adebayo and Francis Uzoho are available for Chelle, while Zaidu Sanusi and Chibuike Nwaiwu provide defensive options.
Lazio man Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sevilla's Chidera Ejuke and Coventry City's Frank Onyeka are all listed among the substitutes.
https://soccernet.ng/2026/03/super-eagles-fulham-udinese-lazio-nigeria.html
How Tottenham could line up in Marco Silva's 4-2-3-1 with two of his former players
Marco Silva is the latest to be linked with the managerial role at Tottenham Hotspur, with Igor Tudor's future still in doubt, and we have taken a look at how Spurs could line up in his 4-2-3-1 system.
It remains to be seen if Igor Tudor will be the Tottenham Hotspur manager by the end of the March international break.
At the moment, there are contrasting reports regarding the future of the interim Spurs manager, as some claim there has been a mutual parting of ways between Tottenham and Tudor. Meanwhile, others suggest talk of a Tudor departure is premature.
Of course, Spurs are in a difficult position regarding the manager, who is currently dealing with the loss of his father. However, should they opt to pull the plug, they will have to make a decision on who takes charge in the coming weeks.
Marco Silva is one manager who has been linked with the Tottenham job; whether he is appointed this season or next remains to be seen. Regardless, we have now decided to see how Spurs could look under the Portuguese.
Tottenham Marco Silva tactical setup and lineup prediction
We know from his time in the Premier League that Marco Silva is a manager who prefers to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
That sort of shape is not new in the Premier League, as Tottenham themselves have often set up in a similar system under Thomas Frank. That naturally suggests that, should Silva make the switch, many Spurs players will not struggle to adapt to his system.
In fact, Silva can be likened to a manager very similar to Frank in what you can expect from him. His team will be compact; they can play good football, but he is not known to be overly aggressive in his approach and is often balanced in each facet of play.
Should he look to replicate a similar style, then we can expect to see similar players who lined up under Frank feature for Silva as well.
In goal, there is no extreme priority on playing out from the back, as Fulham can often mix things up, and that should work well for Guglielmo Vicario.
In front of the goalkeeper, one could expect to see a back four of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie.
This back four could see Silva deploy his players similarly to how he does at Fulham. We know the manager rarely has his full-backs invert, and they are usually used traditionally, offering overlaps and never afraid to run forward.
That could work for both Udogie and Porro, who could thrive in Silva's setup. At Fulham, we know Andersen is mostly the ball-playing centre-back, and you can easily see Romero in that role. Beside him, Bassey is a willing runner – a ball-carrying centre-back – and that is van de Ven.
In front of the defence, we expect that Joao Palhinha will be Silva's preferred choice in one of the pivot roles. The two have worked together before when Palhinha was at Fulham, and it was Silva who signed him.
By the side of the Portuguese, we expect to see Archie Gray. The youngster remains one of the best players for Tottenham this season and, given his versatility, could fit into any system.
In the number ten role, we expect to see Xavi Simons pulling the strings. We have seen Josh King and Smith Rowe put in decent performances in that position this season, and they are often very advanced, so we can expect Simons to have a similar free, creative role.
On the wings, Kudus and Mathys Tel could be Silva's go-to men. We have already seen how dangerous Harry Wilson has been this season, and if Silva can get either one of Spurs' wide men to produce similar numbers, then you would fancy their chances of staying up.
Up top, it simply has to be Richarlison. The Portuguese is a big fan of the Brazilian and is often full of praise for him, which is no surprise given they have worked together at both Watford and Everton.
Here is the final lineup: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Palhinha, Gray; Kudus, Simons, Tel; Richarlison.
https://www.spurs-web.com/spurs-news/how-tottenham-could-line-up-in-marco-silvas-4-2-3-1-with-two-of-his-former-players/
Internationals: Heartbreak for H
Harry Wilson's 2026 World Cup dream is over, after Wales were beaten on penalties by Bosnia in Cardiff on Thursday evening.
Wales started the Play-Off Semi-Final the stronger and almost took a sublime lead into half-time courtesy of the Fulham man, but unfortunately his gorgeous curling strike came back off the woodwork.
The hosts did take a deserved lead when Dan James unleashed a howitzer after the restart, but a late header from 40-year-old Edin Džeko took the tie to extra-time.
With no more goals forthcoming in the additional half hour, penalties were needed to separate the sides, and although Wilson expertly dispatched his kick, Wales fell to 4-2 loss after Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams both missed from 12 yards.
Naturally disappointed, Wilson is now turning his attentions to the upcoming Nations League and 2028 European Championship, when Wales will be co-hosts alongside England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
"To finish the qualifying so strongly, I felt we were in a really good position going into the Semi-Final and it just wasn't meant to be," he said. "But we know we're a really, really good team and we saw that throughout the qualifying campaign.
"Although we're all disappointed, it's about looking forward now. We've got a Nations League A campaign and then onto the next Euros, which we're all desperate to play at home."
https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/march/27/internationals-heartbreak-for-h/
Fulham now ready to sign Champions League-winning striker in shock move for Pepi alternative
Following their latest blow in the race to sign Ricardo Pepi, Fulham are now ready to offer a Champions League-winning attacker a route back to the Premier League.
Romano shares Pepi bombshell
Fulham's move to sign Pepi is destined to go down as a classic case of what might have been. After failing to sign the PSV Eindhoven forward in January, those in West London had been closing in on his signature ahead of the summer transfer window, only for the deal to hit another stumbling block last week.
There's still plenty of time for both clubs to come to an agreement, but it remains to be seen whether Fulham push to sign their attacking target for a third time if the deal collapses.
The forward, if a deal is still possible, would be an impressive addition. With 13 goals from 28 appearances this season, with 10 of those coming in 20 league games, Pepi is clearly a strong candidate to replace Raul Jimenez.
The Mexican striker is on course to leave as a free agent this summer and will be heading for the exit door as a fan favourite.
Not many expected Jimenez to reach the level that he has done at Craven Cottage after struggling to find his best form at Wolves following a head injury. However, he has since proved those naysayers wrong and then some. So much so that replacing him will not be an easy task.
If it's not to be Pepi then it will be back to the drawing board for Fulham, who may even turn towards a serial winner as a result.
Fulham ready to launch Firmino offer
From a young forward nearing the peak of his powers to an experienced Champions League winner, it really could be just one of two extremes in West London this summer.
According to Sports Boom, Fulham are ready to launch an offer to sign Roberto Firmino this summer if he decides to leave Qatar amid the ongoing conflict.
Swapping one ageing striker in Jimenez for another certainly wouldn't be a long-term plan, but there's no doubt that Firmino could quickly prove to be a repeat.
The Brazilian won it all during his time at Liverpool and is still finding the back of the net in Qatar, with 12 goals in 26 games representing a solid campaign.
Alas, if he is to complete a shock return to the Premier League, then he will have to lower his wages. Whilst his salary at Al-Saad is unknown, Firmino was earning a reported £315,000-a-week Al-Ahli last season.
Dubbed "special" by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, the 34-year-old could yet make the most unexpected return to English football this summer.
https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-now-ready-to-sign-roberto-firmino-champions-league-winner/
Arsenal fixture televised
Fulham's Premier League fixture against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium has been selected for live television coverage on Sky Sports.
The match will still take place on Saturday 2nd May, but will now kick-off at the later time of 5.30pm.
https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/march/27/arsenal-fixture-televised/
Fulham looking to bring Roberto Firmino back to England
Premier League outfit Fulham are reportedly interested in strengthening their attacking unit by signing Roberto Firmino in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Sports Boom, Roberto Firmino is the subject of interest from Fulham. The former Liverpool attacker faces an uncertain future at Al Sadd, and a return to the Premier League may be on the cards.
The Brazilian has done quite well for Qatari outfit Al Sadd, scoring 12 goals and picking up five assists. He could add a new dimension to the Fulham attack if he moves to Craven Cottage. The opportunity to return to the Premier League could be exciting for him. He was linked with Arsenal last summer before moving to Qatar.
Meanwhile, recent reports have also claimed that Real Madrid are mulling over a move for Firmino.
Fulham could use Roberto Firmino
Fulham have been overly dependent on Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson in the final third this season. Rodrigo Muniz has been quite underwhelming, scoring just one goal all season, and he has struggled with fitness issues. Meanwhile, Jimenez is in the twilight stages of his career. They need more quality and depth in the attacking unit.
The Brazilian striker will bring elite link-up play, intelligent movement, and pressing intelligence to the team. His ability to drop between the lines and create space for others would add a new dimension to the Fulham attack.
Firmino could transform Fulham
Even though the 34-year-old is not a high-volume scorer, he could solve a major problem for them. The West London outfit have been overly dependent on width and crossing for creativity. They lack central creativity, and the Brazilian would add just that. He can drop deep and link the midfield with the attack. He will help them create chances centrally.
Also, Firmino's ability to pull defenders out of position and vacate the central zones will allow the wingers (Harry Wikson, Kevin and Oscar Bobb) to exploit the space and run in behind. There is no doubt that he would massively improve their build-up with his combination play, controlled possession, and third-man running.
Despite being 34, he is an extremely fit player who could lead Fulham's pressing from the front and help them maintain structure. Furthermore, he is a Premier League and Champions League winner. His winning experience and big mentality could transform them on the pitch. The veteran attacker has previously been a reliable performer in the Premier League with Liverpool, and he should be able to adapt quickly and make an immediate impact if he returns.
https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2026/03/28/fulham-looking-to-bring-roberto-firmino-back-to-england/
Firmino...why? We already have a fine, creative player for that role. Tom Cairney. He always pwrforms well when he come on. Can we have two 35 year old similar players at the same time? Seems a bit of a waste to me.