Out of action: Aleksandar Mitrovic missed Fulham’s 3-1 defeat by West Ham
(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)Marco Silva has bemoaned Serbia’s management of Aleksandar Mitrovic over the injury that kept Fulham’s top scorer out of yesterday’s derby defeat by West Ham.
Mitrovic sustained a foot problem in Serbia’s 4-1 victory over Sweden last month but then played the full game against Norway just four days later.
The forward was forced off before half-time when returning to club action for Fulham against Newcastle and then was absent from the squad altogether for the 3-1 loss at the London Stadium on Sunday.
"We had some doubts about whether he would play in the second game [for Serbia], we checked, the two medical staffs were in contact and they told us the player was in condition to start the second game,” Silva said.
“It’s tough for us, not just for us but all the clubs, when you try to protect your players and these things happen. After the injury in the first game, it probably was not the best for him to start the second game and play 90 minutes.”
Silva was also unable to say whether Mitrovic, who has six Premier League goals to his name so far this season, would be fit to return against Bournemouth next weekend.
“We have to see day-by-day,” he added. "We expected for him to be with us this afternoon but unfortunately the last two days he didn’t feel so well.
“We have to check him, keep assessing him to see if he can start working with the team again.”
