Scott Parker has urged patience with some of his new Fulham signings, warning throwing too many of them in early in the season could have a long term impact.
Four new arrivals - including goalkeeper Alphonse Areola - made their debut in Wednesday's 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Ipswich, but ahead of Fulham's trip to Leeds this weekend, Parker is wary of working his new signings too hard after a rushed pre-season.
"We'll make a judgement on where we see the players physically," said Parker.
"This is a league where you can't afford to carry players. When you're us you need to be at your peak of fitness. With the quick turnaround in pre-season and players late coming into the building, some are just a little bit short at the moment.
"Hopefully we can get some out there because that will make us stronger but I'm not going to risk long term injury of the players."
After an opening day humbling at the hands of Arsenal, Parker knows it is games such as Saturday's against a fellow promoted side that will really count across the season.
He said: "Definitely. We want to try and get something out of the game. Of course this weekend we're going to a team who are newly promoted as well."
