Source: Team_Talk
Riise keen to rise to top 10 challenge
jorn Helge Riise insists Fulham's first-team hopefuls are desperate to contribute to a fine season by securing a top 10 Premier League finish.[LNB] Craven Cottage is gripped with excitement over the looming Europa League final against Atletico Madrid at the Hamburg Arena next Wednesday.[LNB]With his first-choice side set in stone, manager Roy Hodgson will nurse his resources carefully over the two remaining Premiership matches.[LNB]Only four of the side that completed the fairytale march to the final by beating Hamburg last week started Sunday's 3-2 victory over West Ham.[LNB]Hodgson is likely to give the second string another run out in tomorrow night's clash with Stoke and Riise insists they are ready to answer his call once again.[LNB]"We live to play football so there was never any question of us not being up for it against West Ham," he told the club's official website, www.fulhamfc.com.[LNB]"For those of us that were on the bench against Hamburg it was a chance to show that we can play football.[LNB]"That was important to us and we don't want to lose games, especially in the last weeks of the season and especially when we have a final coming up.[LNB]"For us the aim is to get that 10th place and if we beat Stoke we will be close to achieving that."[LNB]Fulham sit one point adrift of 10th place Blackburn but have a game in hand on Rovers.[LNB]After meeting Stoke at Craven Cottage they end the Premier League campaign at Arsenal, who could yet be pipped to third place by Tottenham.[LNB]Riise is hoping to be involved as much as possible as the finishing touches are put to a season that is already the most successful in the club's 131-year history.[LNB]"It was nice to play 90 minutes against West Ham and to win," said the Norwegian midfielder.[LNB]"A lot of the team haven't played much recently so to beat West Ham 3-2 is a very positive result.[LNB]"I enjoyed it a lot and hopefully I'll get to play a bit more in the last three games.[LNB]"Now it's important to beat Stoke to secure 10th place. To finish the season at the Emirates will be magnificent.[LNB]"I've never been there before but people tell me it's a great stadium so I'm looking forward to that.[LNB]"We want to be in that top 10 so that when we look at the table on TV we're there in the top half.[LNB]"And to achieve that after the season we've had, and getting to the Europa League final, would be a very good season."[LNB]Bobby Zamora continues his battle with an Achilles injury and is unlikely to play any part against Stoke.[LNB]
