Fulham have been dealt a serious injury blow with manager Martin Jol today revealing that influential midfielder Mahamadou Diarra could be out for up to six months.
The 31-year-old former Lyon and Real Madrid star had this season taken on the role of playmaker following the summer departure of club captain Danny Murphy to Championship side Blackburn.
But he returned from international duty with Mali carrying a knee injury that kept him out of last weekend’s win at home to West Brom.
Now Jol’s worst fears have been realised with Diarra having been told he requires surgery.
The Dutchman said: “He has a bit of cartilage floating in his knee. That needs surgery so he is out for three to four weeks, maybe longer. But there could be cruciate ligament damage, and if that is true then it could be three or four months at least.”
That is the last thing Jol needs as he attempts to rebuild his midfield after losing Murphy, Dickson Etuhu, Mousa Dembele and Clint Dempsey in the transfer window.
Jol, who will retain utility player Chris Baird alongside Steve Sidwell in central midifield for Saturday’s Premier League game at Wigan, admitted: “It is frustrating. Diarra is in the same mould as Danny Murphy.”
Jol was already having to cope without new signing Kieran Richardson, who will not have recovered from a knock until next week. And veteran Greece international Giorgios Karagounis, who signed last week, is not yet fit for first-team action.
Simon Davies remains unavailable, but Bryan Ruiz has come off the injury list and will compete with Colombian Hugo Rodallega for a place up front with Dimitar Berbatov.
Read More
MORE ABOUT