Marco Silva has confirmed Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson will not be fit for the start of the Premier League season.
Robinson has not played a single minute of pre-season after undergoing knee surgery in May, and Silva says the 27-year-old will not be ready to face Brighton next weekend.
“Jedi is not ready,” said Silva after Fulham’s 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Robinson has been an integral player for Fulham since their promotion to the Premier League in 2022.
The American international contributed the most assists of any defender in the Premier League last season, and captained Fulham on 18 occasions as they finished with a record top-flight points tally.
Silva admitted in his pre-match programme notes before the Frankfurt game that he has been left frustrated by Fulham’s lack of transfer activity this summer.
Fulham have brought in just one new signing, back-up goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte.
“We hope we can strengthen the squad in the three or four positions we need to before the first game,” said Silva.
“Some positions are really short and we have to add players, yes or yes until the end of the market because it’s not what we expect in this moment of the season to don’t have at least one, two or three players we needed for the beginning of the season.
“We expected much more activity from ourselves in terms of recruitment, players in. Unfortunately, they are not here. The worst thing we can have now is more injuries. Jedi had the small surgery, it will take a little bit more time for him to be ready.”
Fulham were dealt a further blow after left-back after Ryan Sessegnon was withdrawn against Frankfurt.
But Silva remains optimistic that Sessegnon will be fit to face Brighton.
“He felt something,” said Silva. “Let's see in the next few hours or few days how he reacts. We'll do some exams on him.
“Let's hope that he can be ready for the beginning of the season.”
