Serbia manager Dragan Stojkovic has confirmed Fulham midfielder Sasa Lukic is out for between four to six weeks with an adductor injury.
Lukic, who has started every Premier League game for the Cottagers this season, was substituted 14 minutes into their 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth last Friday.
The 29-year-old was subsequently expected to withdraw from international duty to continue his recovery and Stojkovic has said he expects Lukic to be out for a prolonged period.
“Lukic has an injury to the adductor of his left leg, with a break between four and six weeks. We certainly couldn’t count on him against Albania due to the suspension,” Stojkovic said, speaking to the media on Monday.
Lukic joins a growing injury list at Fulham, with Marco Silva opting not to name a recognised striker against Bournemouth due to the absence of Rodrigo Muniz and Raul Jimenez.
Silva hopes Muniz will be back before the November international break, having suffered a hamstring injury prior to Fulham’s 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
Jimenez, meanwhile, will miss international duty with Mexico, having suffered a hip injury against Villa, and he is in a race against time to be fit for Fulham’s games against Arsenal and Newcastle after the international break.
Kenny Tete is also out and is not expected to be fit after the international break, despite not needing surgery on a knee injury which ruled him out against Villa and Bournemouth.
Harrison Reed was absent against Bournemouth, but Standard Sport understands that his omission was a technical decision.
The midfielder could be brought back into the fold following Lukic’s injury.
Silva, who is into the final year of his contract, complained about Fulham’s inactivity in the transfer market, waiting until Deadline Day to get three deals over the line.
The Fulham boss has now been left to rue his club’s lack of transfer activity as injuries pile up for his side, who head into the international break on the back of successive defeats.
