Fulham's injury crisis good news for recent signings

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson will hand Nicky Shorey and Stefano Okaka their Fulham debuts in the Premier League match against Portsmouth.

The two players have joined the Cottagers on loan from Aston Villa and Roma respectively until the end of the season.

Hungarian midfielder Zoltan Gera became the latest casualty after sustaining a knee injury in training to take Hodgson's injured list to six players.

Hodgson said: "The injury front is very bad. As bad as I have ever experienced in football.

"I've got six of our first team out injured and one who has not returned yet from the African Nations Cup.

"To lose seven players from the team which played last year is always going to take some time dealing with.

"Fortunately, we have had some players come in on loan - Nicky Shorey and Stefano Okaka - which has allowed me to plug some gaps.

"But I am very disappointed. Simon Davies, who I hoped would recover for the game and Zoltan Gera has hurt himself in training.

"To lose a further two in our current situation - it seems we are now paying for the really good form we had last season with injuries."