Justin Kluivert injury: Andoni Iraola offers new update on Bournemouth star before Fulham clash
Bournemouth will make a late decision on the fitness of top scorer Justin Kluivert for Monday’s Premier League clash with Fulham.
The Dutch winger has been one of the standout stars of a previously impressive campaign under Andoni Iraola on the south coast, scoring 13 goals and providing eight assists in 33 appearances across all competitions so far.
However, Kluivert has not played since the 2-1 home FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Manchester City on March 30 after picking up an unspecified knock that has seen him miss back-to-back top-flight games against Ipswich and West Ham.
Bournemouth’s rather alarming slump in form has continued without the 25-year-old, with the Cherries now winless in their last six league games and losers of four straight at home to drop down to mid-table and deal a blow to their chances of securing European football for next season.
Fulham – fresh off a shock home win over champions-elect Liverpool and currently sitting two places and three points above their next opponents in eighth – are the latest visitors to the Vitality Stadium on Monday night, with Iraola unsure at this stage if Kluivert will be ready for that fixture.
The Spaniard also faces late calls over fellow wingers Marcus Tavernier (ankle) and Luis Sinisterra (hamstring), with the latter deemed the most unlikely to be involved against Fulham as things stand.
“We still have three days until Monday night. We will try with Justin, with Tav, with Sini,” Iraola said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“Probably from the three, Sini is the one who has less chance to arrive. We have to be careful with him but we will try.
“We still have three days but that’s our situation right now.”
Bournemouth will definitely remain without long-term absentee Enes Unal against Fulham after the Turkish forward underwent knee surgery back in January, while Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie will also now miss the rest of the season after an operation on his groin to fix a lingering issue.
“Ryan Christie is out for the season. He needed surgery and I think he has been pushing through pain all season,” Iraola said of the former Celtic man.
“Now was the moment where his body told him ‘it’s enough, you cannot keep playing’. Now our aim is to recover well with him and have him ready to start pre-season well with the others.
“He is definitely not going to be able to play this season.”
Fulham could have Harry Wilson on the bench against Bournemouth after he rejoined training following surgery on a foot fracture in February. Arsenal loanee Reiss Nelson remains sidelined after hamstring surgery.
Bournemouth v Fulham: FPL team news + predicted line-ups
Andoni Iraola expecting challenge with visit of Fulham
ANDONI Iraola praised Fulham’s squad and their ability to pick up results in what he said will be a ‘key’ game heading into the culmination of the season.
The boss said he rates the Cottagers highly ahead of their visit to the South Coast on Monday night.
Asked about Fulham’s up and down season, Iraola said: “I think it’s good results to have to win one, lose one, win one in the Premier League.
“For teams like us or Fulham, they are very good results. To win one game in the Premier League for me is very expensive.
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“It takes a lot, you need a very good performance to win and for me they are winning a lot. And that’s the reason they are in a really good position in the standings and I rate them very highly, especially on the ball. I think it’s a team that has a lot of alternatives.
“They are, for me, dangerous offensively. They use the full backs very well. Players who change positions, they’ve been also playing with four at the back, five at the back.
“These kinds of teams that you have to be ready for different things and especially offensively I think they are a dangerous team for us.”
Assessing the Fulham squad, Iraola said it is one that does not have a clear star or best player.
“I like a lot of these players and they perform consistently very well,” Iraola said.
