Silver line

Fulham boss Marco Silva has recalled Andreas Pereira to the matchday squad for tonight’s clash against Brighton.

Brazilian Pereira found himself in hot water with Cottagers fans after an interview regarding his potential summer exit surfaced earlier this week.

The former Manchester United star apologised for ‘his unprofessional conduct’ and he was subsequently axed from the 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

Silva described that move as a ‘technical decision’ and insisted it wasn’t to do with his interview, but he remained pre-match.

He told Amazon: “There is not just Andreas [on the bench tonight]. There are eight more players also on the bench.”.

Silva has made three changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Tottenham.

He added: “The games are coming thick and fast, after tonight we have not even 72 hours to recover for the next game. December is always like that. You have to manage the load of some players. So that and the suspensions and the strategy we want to play to be at our best level means that we made some changes.”

Rodrigo Muniz replaces Raul Jimenez up front, while there are also starts for Timothy Castagne and Harry Wilson.

Castagne starts for Fulham on his 29th birthday – the oldest player to appear on his birthday in the Premier League for the Cottagers since Steve Sidwell v Everton in December 2013 (31st).

Wilson is making his 50th Premier League start tonight – just 200 shy of the number Brighton captain Lewis Dunk will bring in.

However, Danny Welbeck, who captained the Seagulls last Friday in Dunk’s absence, has not been included in the matchday squad.

Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Wilson, Nelson, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Muniz.

Subs: Benda, Tete, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Traore, Pereira, King, Jimenez, Vinicius.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Julio, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan, Baleba, Wieffer, O’Riley, Mitoma, Adingra, Pedro.

Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Moder, Ayari, McConville, Gruda, Minteh, Rutter, Ferguson.