Source: Daily_Mail
Rotating Roy Hodgson lauds European impact of Fulham fringe players
Rotation: Hodgson has used fringe players in the Europa League[LNB]Fulham are a win away from reaching the last 32 of the Europa League, but manager Roy Hodgson would still prefer three points against Manchester United on Saturday.[LNB]The Fulham boss has always prioritised the Premier League, maintaining that survival in the top flight is his club's main ambition, and has tweaked his midweek Europa League teams accordingly.[LNB]But Hodgson insisted he was just rotating his squad, rather than fielding weaker teams.[LNB]He said: 'I am very pleased with the performances in Europe. It has given players on the fringe a chance to show what they can do and we have become stronger as a group and stronger as a football club as a result of that.[LNB]'I would like to give players a chance to play all the time.'[LNB]But compare this attitude to that of Basle, who can draw tonight and qualify from Group E with Roma at Fulham's expense. The Swiss side go on their winter break on Thursday and do not play again until February 6. Fulham have nine games during that period.[LNB]Basle manager Thorsten Fink said: 'We aren't playing for a draw. We're going to try and dictate the game, if possible.[LNB]'For Basle it's the last game of the year, so we look at it being a very, very important game.'[LNB] European tour: Danny Murphy won the UEFA Cup in his days at Liverpool[LNB]Fulham captain Danny Murphy, however, would be against the Premier League introducing a winter break.[LNB]He said: 'I enjoy the football over the festive period. I did as a young boy and as a fan growing up. It's what makes the English game special.'[LNB]For Murphy, a UEFA Cup winner with Liverpool in 2001, the competition retains its allure.[LNB]'We [Liverpool] were playing at places like Barcelona, Rome and teams like that, so it certainly wasn't a Mickey Mouse competition,' he said.[LNB]Tonight Fulham will be without Chris Baird, Erik Nevland and Paul Konchesky, who are all suspended, while Andy Johnson's expected comeback after groin surgery has been delayed after he felt a 'sharp pain' in training on Monday.[LNB] ALL THE MIDWEEK BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWSGiggsy: The humble superstar who reminds us what the game has lost...Wigan boss Martinez determined to keep hold of Figueroa and ScharnerALL THE FULHAM FC
