Marco Silva delighted as Raul Jimenez repays Fulham trust

Fulham boss Marco Silva says he always had faith that Raul Jimenez would rediscover his scoring touch.

The Mexico forward suffered a fractured skull in November 2020 when playing for former club Wolves.

Jimenez, who had netted 17 Premier League goals in the 2019-20 season, failed to replicate his form after the injury and moved to Fulham last summer.

The 33-year-old has now scored three times for the Cottagers in their first seven league matches.

"It's nice to see him performing so well and it's important because in the last five months where he wasn't called for the national team, it's important for him to have that impact," Silva told reporters.

"Of course it's easier for everyone to see Raul back again.

"Me and the club, we were the ones who believed and put trust that Raul could be back at his best level after the bad injury which was the worst moment of his life and career for sure.

"It was tough for him to come back and feel trust and score goals again. When he scored the goal, we saw a different Jimenez again."

Fulham host Aston Villa at Craven Cottage on Saturday as they look to bounce back from their 3-2 defeat to Manchester City last time out.

Villa have experienced an upturn in fortunes since manager Unai Emery took over in 2022, with the club qualifying for the Champions League last season.

Silva lauded the "incredible" job of the Spaniard, whose Villa side sit in fifth after seven matches.

"Everything he does in his career speaks for itself," said Silva. "He doesn't need me to mention many things. At Aston Villa he's been brilliant, with the impact there it's impossible to have a better impact than him.

"He's playing Champions League for one reason, Unai has been incredible there."

Fulham will be without Sasa Lukic after the Serbia midfielder injured his shoulder in the most recent international break.

"He's going to be out. It's mixed feelings after international break for us," Silva said.

"Some of the players were able to keep the momentum and play well for their national teams, it's important for us.

"Some of the others like Sasa is going to be out and not just for one or two games, it'll be more than that. Timothy Castagne has a problem with the hamstring, both will be out. Jorge Cuenca and Carlos Vinicius will be out."

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