MX23RW : Thursday, December 24 16:33:04| >> :120:3977:3977:

Scott Parker intends to rotate Fulham squad for Ipswich cup tie

Scott Parker intends to rotate Fulham squad for Ipswich cup tie
© Reuters
Alphonse Areola, Mario Lemina, Kenny Tete, Ola Aina and Antonee Robinson could make their debuts.

Scott Parker will rotate the squad as the Fulham manager looks to build match fitness and reach the Carabao Cup third round at the expense of Ipswich.

The Sky Bet Championship play-off winners returned to Premier League action with a whimper as Arsenal ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in Saturday's season opener at Craven Cottage.

Fulham now head to Portman Road looking for victory against Paul Lambert's League One side in the Carabao Cup second round – an encounter Parker intends to make changes in.

Alphonse Areola, Mario Lemina, Kenny Tete, Ola Aina and Antonee Robinson have yet to make their debut since their summer arrivals, while others left out of the line-up against Arsenal need minutes.

"It's a competition that we respect," Parker said. "A good cup run, we know that that can build confidence and momentum.

"And also, at the same time it helps in terms of getting players minutes and getting players up to speed, those who haven't been with us too long or haven't played a lot of football or trained a lot due to the circumstances of having such a short pre-season.

"But as much as we want to get minutes into the boys to get them up to speed, we also want to go and win the game.

"We want to stay in the competition and hopefully be successful in it.

"Winning is the most important thing. Every time you play a football match, you want to win.

"It's an opportunity for us to win a game, which is what we plan to do every game this year.

"We understand we're not going to be able to do that every week, but our ambition is to try and win football matches, so this gives us a good platform to try and do that and then build from it."

Fulham's side is bound to be full of quality despite his planned changes on Wednesday when Parker will not allow complacency to seep in against third-tier opposition.

"They've got a good manager, an experienced manager in Paul, and a team which has some good young talent in there, mixed with some good experience with the older pros," he told the club's website.

"They've got all the dynamics to do very well this year. They're a good side who try and play the right way, so it's going to be a tough game for us.

"They try and play football, they like to get the ball down. They've got technical players, players who like the ball on the floor.

"And like I said, they've got a good blend of talented younger players alongside some older, more experienced players in (Luke) Chambers and people like that."

ID:414446:cQx

Click here for more stories about Scott Parker

Click here for more stories about Fulham

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Liverpool's Divock Origi pictured in July 2020
Read Next:
Liverpool 'willing to accept £14m for Origi'
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1494136191731
2Leicester CityLeicester149052617927
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd138232821726
4Everton148242519626
5Chelsea1474329141525
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1474325141125
7Southampton147342519624
8Manchester CityMan City136521912723
9Aston Villa1271424131122
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham146352119221
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves146261419-520
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle135351722-518
13Crystal Palace145361925-618
14Leeds UnitedLeeds145272430-617
15Arsenal144281218-614
16Burnley13346819-1113
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton142661622-612
18Fulham142481323-1010
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom141491029-197
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd140212825-172

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!