Fulham have been dealt a significant setback after club-record signing Kevin was ruled out for several weeks with a foot injury.
The 23-year-old Brazilian winger, who joined from Shakhtar Donetsk late in the summer transfer window, has endured a challenging debut campaign in west London.
After initially struggling to find his rhythm, Kevin eventually opened his account in January and has since contributed eight goals and five assists in 33 appearances across all competitions. However, his momentum has now been halted.
Fulham boss Marco Silva confirmed the attacker is likely to undergo surgery after sustaining the injury in last week’s win over Sunderland.
“Kevin is the only player who will not be in contention,” Silva said ahead of Sunday’s clash.
“We’re waiting to find out more, but he will probably have surgery and be out for some weeks. It’s a big blow for him personally. We’re here to support him.”
The timing is far from ideal, with Tottenham Hotspur set to visit Craven Cottage this weekend. Spurs, now managed by Igor Tudor, are battling inconsistency and sit just four points above the relegation zone.
Silva also provided updates on the wider squad, revealing that Saša Lukić, Samuel Chukwueze and others have trained well during the week, while Antonee Robinson has returned to team sessions. A final decision on their availability will be made after the final training session.
Despite Kevin’s absence, Fulham will take confidence from their recent record against Spurs. The Cottagers are unbeaten in their last four meetings with the north London side and have won their last three home fixtures against them.
Still, Silva remains cautious. He acknowledged Tottenham’s struggles this season but warned against complacency, stressing that his side must deliver their best performance to avoid allowing Spurs to respond.
With Kevin sidelined and surgery looming, Fulham must now find alternative attacking solutions as they aim to maintain their strong home form and push forward in the closing stages of the season.
