Bryan Ruiz Gives Fulham The Inside Track On FC Twente
Fulham are in a decent position to qualify from their Europa League group but they will need to beat FC Twente, who are top of their group, if they are to even have a chance of winning this group and gaining one of the easier fixtures in the next round of this competition. Former Twente star Bryan Ruiz, who joined on transfer deadline day for over £10m, has been filling his new team mates in on the opposition and that could give Fulham a slight advantage heading into this game, although Martin Jol also knows plenty about Twente from his recent spell as Ajax manager.
Stephen Kelly has been missing from action since picking up an injury that forced him out of the second leg of Ireland's Euro 2012 playoff but the full back is likely to return for this fixture. There will be no return to action for Steve Sidwell though after the midfielder recently underwent a hernia operation. Damien Duff and Simon Davies are both injured whilst Bryan Ruiz is cup tied so Moussa Dembele may have to drop back into midfield with Andy Johnson coming back into the side, Johnson has five goals in the four group games so far including one against Thursday's opponents Twente.
Bryan Ruiz may be cup tied but it looks as though he has been an influence off the field ahead of this game, he told the official Fulham website:
“We have to take care of Nacer Chadli, Luuk De Jong and Ola John and also Emir Bajrami – if those players play they are very good. Twente are not having the best season but they are doing well in the Europa League, they know that they are through – but they will like to finish well."
Fulham have only managed to pick up one away win in the Premiership which doesn't bode well for their chances in this match, especially with Fulham only managing to get a draw when playing Twente at Craven Cottage. Twente are unbeaten in their last nine league games but they have been drawing an awful lot with only three wins during that period. Fulham have also drawn as much as they have lost domestically so the best bet in this match could easily prove the draw, whatever happens it should be very close.