Silva led Fulham back into the top flight with an emphatic high-scoring campaign last time out, securing the Championship title with 90 points and 106 goals. Central to their success in front of goal have been the efforts of Wilson, who has officially completed a £12million move to Craven Cottage this summer after a loan deal was agreed. The Welsh winger scored 10 goals and provided a further 20 assists in 40 Championship appearances last season, also scoring a goal and providing another assist in two FA Cup outings. No second-tier player created more chances than Wilson (102), who finally settled permanently after 16 years and six loan spells while at Liverpool. However, the Cottagers will be without the 25-year-old when they host his former club on Saturday, with Silva confirming that both Wilson and midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah will miss the opener. Wilson, he explained, is set to miss “more than eight weeks” with a knee injury. Fulham have a new face at their disposal in Brighton loanee Shane Duffy, who finalized his move to west London on Friday. Duffy arrives at a crucial time for Fulham, with Silva criticizing the club’s lack of transfer activity earlier this week, insisting: “Nobody can prepare for a season with just two centre-backs.” The promoted club had been linked with Liverpool defender Nat Phillips, although Jurgen Klopp has now admitted he will “probably” stay following an injury to Ibrahima Konate. It remains to be seen whether Duffy will start on Saturday, with Silva’s other options being Tosin Adarabioyo and Tim Ream. Fulham will of course also be without Fabio Carvalho, with the 19-year-old having left earlier in the summer to join Liverpool in a £7.7m deal. Carvalho also scored 11 goals for Fulham last season, with Wilson the only player with more assists than the young Portugal international, who bagged eight. Apart from striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, then, Silva will be without two of his three most prolific attacking options from last season when the Reds arrive on Saturday. Possible Fulham XI: Leno? Tete, Reim, Tosin, Robinson? Palhinha, Reed, Pereira; De Cordova-Reed, Cembano, Mitrovic
