Fulham head coach Marco Silva has called for patience with Samuel Chukwueze, insisting the Super Eagles winger will soon show his true quality once he regains full fitness, Footynaija.com reports.
Chukwueze joined Fulham on loan from AC Milan during the summer transfer window but has endured a challenging start to life in the Premier League. The 26-year-old has featured just four times off the bench since arriving at Craven Cottage, with his only goal contribution coming in the 3–1 defeat to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The Super Eagles winger has been hampered by fitness issues, which have limited his impact in a Fulham side striving for consistency in attack. However, Silva believes the former Villarreal man has the attributes to become a key player once he reaches his physical peak.
“The moment [to start] will arrive for [Samuel] Chukwueze too. We’re feeling he can have an impact for us,” Silva said during his pre-match press conference ahead of taking on Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.
“It was the moment for Kevin [to start on the left], to play [Alex] Iwobi more inside. Chukwueze can do it there too. The biggest challenge and answer he can give is not one v one, but finishing. The way he plays, the way he is brave, fans like to see.”
Fulham will embark on their trip to Merseyside buoyed by the confidence of last weekend’s 3-0 drowning of bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, their disappointing record of four defeats from their last five Premier League outings will also present the Cottagers with a cause for caution.
Silva’s men will be eyeing back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time this season and Chukwueze will be hoping to earn his first start for the West Londoners and possibly score his first goal at the club.
