Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi will not feature against his former club Arsenal when Fulham visit the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Iwobi sat out last weekend’s 1-0 English Premier League victory over Aston Villa with a hamstring strain and has not recovered, Fulham manager Marco Silva has said.
“There is not good news about Ryan Sessegnon. He is out for the next game and the one after,” Silva said during his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“We have to assess him day by day. Alex Iwobi is still out, plus Kevin. Kenny Tete is back, but it is too soon for him to start the game. However, he will be involved.”
Iwobi, who will be 30 years old on Sunday, has made 27 Premier League appearances this season, contributing four goals and three assists.
The other two Nigeria internationals at Fulham, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze, are fit to face the league leaders.
Fulham, with Iwobi playing a major role, are currently 10th in the table with 48 points, just two points off sixth, and are in contention for UEFA Europa League or Conference League spots.
Silva is looking to get a result against Arsenal to aid Fulham’s European ambitions.
When asked what it would mean to get into Europe, he said: “It’s been a long and tough journey. We’ve been changing things and giving a platform to the club.
“We are a club with a massive history, but the last 15 years have been very different. We know the position we were in when we first arrived.
“I’m not talking about being a Championship or Premier League team – I’m talking about the mood and the lack of belief.
“We’re going to fight for something special. If we achieve it, it will be a great thing. But I don’t like ‘ifs’ because we have to be realistic about our situation now.
“We’re in a big fight with many teams for those European places.”
