Marco Silva hints at key Fulham selection boost for Carabao Cup tie | OneFootball

Premier League side will be strong favorites to overcome fourth-tier Cambridge at Craven Cottage

Antonee Robinson is in contention to feature in Fulham's Carabao Cup third round tie against Cambridge.

The USA international has been eased back into action this season. He missed Fulham's opening game of the campaign against Brighton before coming off the bench against both Manchester United and Chelsea.

Silva admitted the plan had always been to rest the left-back against Brentford at the weekend, with a view to giving him more minutes against Cambridge.

"We are going to have another session before the game, and after that we are going to take a decision," Silva said on Monday.

"Probably it's going to be [Robinson] in contention for the game. That was our aim before the Brentford game to give him some more days to keep working on his fitness and all that stuff, his confidence and to be able to try to have as many minutes as he can tomorrow. It's a chance for him to be involved, yes."

Silva went on to deny that Robinson, who got the most assists of any defender in the Premier League last season, had suffered a setback in his recovery, with the Fulham boss keen to emphasise that they had to be careful.

Absence: Antonee Robinson has not played for Fulham since their 2-0 defeat by Chelsea last month

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"No it's not a setback, he's come from a surgery and he's a player who needs to be in physical conditions almost perfect because this game comes from his athleticism and all that stuff,” Silva said.

“He needs to be there and he has to get some more confidence because he comes from an injury in the knee, but probably he's going to be there (against Cambridge)."

Fulham are favourites to beat League Two side Cambridge at Craven Cottage on Tuesday and seal their place in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.

Silva is likely to rotate his squad, but wouldn't reveal whether he'd hand debuts to Deadline Day signings Samuel Chukwueze and Jonah Kusi-Asare.

Nigerian winger Chukwueze joined on loan from AC Milan with an option to buy set at between £22million-£26m.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old forward Kusi-Asare signed on loan from Bayern Munich, with Fulham holding the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

"They have to wait and let's see what is going to be my decisions," Silva continued.

"I don't prepare these games to give just one or two players a chance. They have been involved, they have been more time with us already, and naturally they are going to have more minutes because that was the reason why we signed them.

"But as (with) all the other players, they have to prove their quality as well, and (prove) that they are ready to start games."