Dembele out for two weeks.

[ImperialWhite]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1314173/Boost-Fulham-striker-Moussa-Dembele-ruled-fortnight.html?ITO=1490

Fulham have been boosted by the news that striker Moussa Dembele will only miss two weeks action after the horror-challenge by Andy Wilkinson in stoppage time at the end of the 2-0 Carling Cup defeat at Stoke.

Cottagers boss Mark Hughes was left fuming at the tackle that threatened to deny him of yet another striker just days after Bobby Zamora's leg break and ligament damage ruled him out for five months.

But the news is good for the £5million summer signing from AZ Alkmaar who has impressed since his arrival at Craven Cottage and now has a crucial role to play, with Andy Johnson also still several weeks from a first-team return following his battle with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Potters assistant manager Dave Kemp moved to support Wilkinson's tackle on Dembele admitting it was  was unnecessary but without malice

With his side 2-0 up at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke defender Wilkinson received a booking in the third minute of stoppage time for bringing down Dembele, who clutched at his left leg and had to be carried off on a stretcher.

The Belgium forward departed the stadium on crutches and Hughes accused Wilkinson of ignoring the footballer's code by making an 'absolutely ridiculous' challenge when there was no need to do so.
Heads I win: Higginbotham celebrates a rare goal for the Potters

Heads I win: Higginbotham celebrates a rare goal for the Potters

Kemp agreed that Wilkinson's tackle had been unwarranted but insisted the 26-year-old had not meant to harm Dembele.

'It was an unnecessary, rash challenge - we know that, we are football people as well,' Kemp said. 'We have spoken to Andy about it. He didn't need to make the challenge, I agree.

'All I can say is that I hope the player is not too badly hurt. There is no malice in his challenge - it is just over-enthusiasm.'

Hughes described Wilkinson's challenge as potentially career-threatening.

'When you are at that stage of the game and your team is leading 2-0, there is a certain code, I would suggest, that you look after your fellow professional, and the lad has ignored that.

'There was no need for the challenge at that late stage in the game and he has put a fellow professional's career at risk by the nature of it. I don't know what the hell he was thinking about to be perfectly honest.'

Referee Mark Halsey blew the whistle for full-time shortly after the incident to confirm the hosts' victory and their place in the fourth round, which was sealed by headers from Danny Higginbotham and Kenwyne Jones in either half.

The Potters team featured seven changes from their previous outing and Kemp felt the result demonstrated the strength Stoke's squad now has.

'I don't think we weakened the team,' he said. Like a lot of teams in the Premier League we have a good squad.

'We had good defenders on the pitch, good midfield players and good forwards so that we could score goals. This is probably the first time this club has been in a situation like that.'

[White Noise]

Hope that is true.

Why did Pulis let Kemp do all the talking last night I wonder?

I don't like the way football is going. There is never any talk of the football anymore.

These are the headlines from the BBC that greeted me this morning -

BBC Sport | Football | UK EditionRestore | ShareDeleteEdit

Moyes makes bottle throwing claim
Everton boss David Moyes is incensed by a fan he claims threw a bottle into his side's supporters after their Carling Cup loss at Brentford.
Redknapp accuses Nasri of diving
Wilkinson challenge angers Hughes

Nothing about praising great play or great players. No delight at victory or the manner of victory. Just aggro.

[ScalleysDad]

It makes you wonder, or me at least, how long AJ will last if he ever makes it back. The speed has gone, the guile is no longer there and he used to get hammered quite regularly. His reputation for going down in a breeze might be about to be replaced by going down after being murdered .............. and the offender will still only get a pointy finger !!
Same applies for Kamara really. A bit of a lightweight and will certainly shirk a tackle.

[FatFreddysCat]

Great news if true, cheered me right up. I'm off to hospital for xrays in a little while to see what this groin pain is, i wish it was just anouther hernia now  rather than possible disc disease??? something to do with the spine and hopefully not like Johnathon Woodgates grionproblem which despite the best medical experts on it, stil not sure what it is. This getting old lark aint much cop.

[Terry Tibbs]

Plus one.  Get well soon, DemPele.  And all the best at the hospital, young Fred.  :54:

Great news if true, cheered me right up. I'm off to hospital for xrays in a little while to see what this groin pain is, i wish it was just anouther hernia now  rather than possible disc disease??? something to do with the spine and hopefully not like Johnathon Woodgates grionproblem which despite the best medical experts on it, stil not sure what it is. This getting old lark aint much cop.

[DevonFFC]

will he be back early and for the west ham game, i bloody hope so, was looking forward to seeing maybe one goal scored by us

[Burt]

Thank god for that... I hope this is true.

[BigDaddyAt]

Fingers crossed, we'll wait for official word...

[PokerMatt]

Huge relief but I too am waiting for the club's stance...

Strange it's the only report so far offering a timescale.

[HatterDon]

Thank
         the
                Maker
                         !!!!

[TonyGilroy]

Thank
        the
               Maker
                        !!!!

That would be the same maker who, in his infinite wisdom, made Pulis and Wilkinson.

Not his best day at the office.

[SmithyFFC]

please god be true.

[Tom]

This is great news for me to wake up too. I really hope this is true. Made my morning already.

[fulhamwannabe]

This is great news for me to wake up too. I really hope this is true. Made my morning already.

it's nearly night time mate,4.20p.m,lol

[jarv]

Tom is obviously in America. We (expats) and Americans post at some very odd times.

[fulhamwannabe]

Tom is obviously in America. We (expats) and Americans post at some very odd times.

ahhhhhhhh,right sorry.i just assumed you were a lazy bugger,lol

[Tom]

This is great news for me to wake up too. I really hope this is true. Made my morning already.

it's nearly night time mate,4.20p.m,lol

Jarv is correct, 8:20 in the morning where I am.

[fulhamwannabe]

morning to you then mate,sorry to disturb  :005:

[Tom]

morning to you then mate,sorry to disturb  :005:

No problem, have a great evening!  :54:

[HatterDon]

Tom is obviously in America. We (expats) and Americans post at some very odd times.

and, of course, any time Tom or I post is an odd time.