Fulham Football Club News

• Nickname:Cottagers
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin Jol

• Ground:Craven Cottage
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Zamora set to miss out

28 Apr 2010 - 17:42:35

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Fulham manager Roy Hodgson fears that key striker Bobby Zamora will miss Thursday's crunch Europa League semi-final second leg encounter with Hamburg at Craven Cottage.

The 29-year-old former Brighton, Tottenham and West Ham forward is struggling to overcome an Achilles injury and faces a late fitness test to see if he can feature against the Bundesliga side.

Hodgson said before the tie, which is evenly poised following last week's first leg which ended goalless: "Bobby's having treatment and I'm hoping he'll be ready for Thursday, but I'm not confident.

"When you reach a game of this level, with the experience and quality of the Hamburg players, they'll be capable of producing a very good performance, whoever their manager may be.

"They've played many, many games together, the assistant has stepped in, so there will not be any vast change of philosophy. I'm expecting the same type of Hamburg we faced a week ago.

"For a club like ours, in terms of squad size, there was concern we wouldn't be able to compete on both fronts.

"I'm really delighted we've been able to prove people wrong and in the bargain have beaten some very good teams along the way to this semi-final. It's an outstanding achievement, and I take a lot of pride in that.

"But we're all determined not to fail at this stage and to take the ultimate step to the final, rather than go out as gallant losers."