Skipper Murphy returns for Cottagers

Posted Sunday, March 21, 2010 by PA

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson welcomes back captain Danny Murphy and midfielder Jonathan Greening for the Barclays Premier League visit of Manchester City.

Both players were suspended for the win over Juventus and Murphy could replace Dickson Etuhu, who picked up a knock in the shock Europa League victory.

Andy Johnson and John Pantsil (both knee) are out, David Elm is a doubt with illness while Clint Dempsey is pushing for a starting place after scoring the winner against Juve.

Hodgson admits the Premier League now sits behind both the Europa League and the FA Cup in his list of priorities after Thursday's shock win over Juventus.

The Cottagers welcome City to Craven Cottage as they look to repeat the level of performance that allowed them to thrash Juventus and confirm their place in the last eight of the Europa League.

Hodgson's side have also reached the same stage in the FA Cup this year and they could book a semi-final date against Portsmouth at Wembley if they overcome Harry Redknapp's Tottenham in a replay on Wednesday.

The west London side currently sit 10th in the Premier League table and 14 points clear of the relegation zone after a successful league campaign built largely on a solid home record.

Hodgson believes an injury crisis in February ended his side's chances of qualifying for Europe through the league and he will now seek to ensure his side's place in next year's Europa League by giving priority to both cup competitions.

"I don't think we'll go down this year," the 62-year-old said.

"Maybe we're a few points short but I'm pretty confident that we will do it, so there's no doubt that the two cup competitions will now take priority, particularly the one on Wednesday, but that might be a competition that come Thursday we won't have to worry about because that game at Tottenham is by no means a given."

With significant prize money on offer, Hodgson is keen not to watch his side's league campaign dwindle into obscurity.

He will also be careful not to risk the wrath of the Premier League, who handed Wolves a suspended 25,000 fine after manager Mick McCarthy fielded a weakened team against Manchester United earlier this season.

Hodgson believes he will have no trouble motivating his players for league games.

"I think in the Premier League, with the quality of the opposition, the interest in the game, the full stadiums of people, the cheering the intensity and the speed of the game, I think it will be very difficult for a serious professional footballer not to be up for games," he said.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will be without Wayne Bridge.

The full-back will be sidelined for a month after undergoing a hernia operation and Javier Garrido is favourite to replace him.

Emmanuel Adebayor is absent through suspension while Martin Petrov has a knee injury.

City go into the match on the back of a draw at Sunderland and Argentinian full-back Pablo Zabaleta wants nothing less than a victory to keep the pressure on Tottenham, Liverpool and Aston Villa and a repeat of the mindset that helped them beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "We are solid at home but we need to pick up points on the road and this game is a great one for us.

"This is a big time in the race and if we want to get into the top four we need to win on Sunday.

"We know it will be difficult as Fulham showed against Juventus they have the quality to beat any team. But if we show the same attitude as we did at Chelsea we have a big chance."

Zabaleta has played across the back and in midfield under manager Roberto Mancini but is not complaining.

He added: "Sometimes we have had too many problems with injuries, so sometimes I have played in different roles.

"I try to do my best for the team. My best position is right back but I will play anywhere."