Fulham boss names two young players who could be involved in FA Cup tie at QPR
BY DANIEL MARSH
Scott Parker has opened the door for the young duo of Fabio Carvalho and Sylvester Jasper to play a part in tomorrow’s FA Cup clash with QPR – and admits that he is a “ real advocate” of blooding more of the club’s academy stars in the future.
The pair have featured on the bench in the cup competitions for Fulham this term, whilst Carvalho made his senior debut in the EFL Cup tie with Sheffield Wednesday.
“They’ve only just come back working with us over the last week,” said Parker. “With the squad being as big as it is, they’ve been away with the restrictions and bubbles. They’ve been with us for the last week, but I think it’s been well-documented in terms of them being around that there’s an opportunity for them to get some minutes and get some experience. I’ve always wanted to do that.
“They’re two very, very good players who we think a lot of at the club. The academy has done a good job with them, so this could be an opportunity for them certainly to get some minutes or be around it in terms of the game.
“It’s always something I want to do.
“First and foremost those players have to be good enough to get in the team and then hold a first-team place down. It’s very difficult in this day and age, with the way the game has gone, but I’m a real advocate of young academy graduates that come into your team.
“There’s always that opportunity, but like I said, they’ve got to be good enough to earn the right to come into this team and play. If they are, then they have a head start. Why? Because I believe in the youth. I believe a football club should be represented by young players who we’ve brought through the academy system – players who have been with your football club since they were dots to then come up into the first team. I think that epitomises everything that this great club stands for.
“But the main thing from there is that they need to be good enough – you don’t get in just because of that. Certainly we’ve produced some along the way – the Sessegnon’s, Patrick Roberts and Moussa Dembele’s and the crop that’s coming through now.”