Festive return for McBride
30 Oct 2007 - 13:49:46
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- Festive return for McBride
Fulham striker Brian McBride should return to first-team action in time for the busy festive programme, according to Cottagers boss Lawrie Sanchez.
The 35-year-old USA international has been sidelined since mid-August when he suffered a dislocated knee-cap in the victory at Middlesbrough.
"I always knew that Brian would be a big miss," Sanchez told the club's official website.
"You try and pencil in dates for a player's recovery and we're targeting the 22nd of December for him to be available for selection.
"I think English football has to be played with a big centre-forward. In Kenwyne Jones, Sunderland seem to have shown that.
"You need an aerial presence, all the top teams have that. Brian's one of the best in the Premier League and it's been a hard gap to fill.
"David Healy had formed a reasonably good relationship with Brian. They played with each other at Preston so they knew each other.
"David Healy does need someone to play with because he's not going to win the aerial challenges but if he plays off a big front man, and he certainly does that with Northern Ireland, it benefits his game tremendously."