Marco Silva points to Ryan Sessegnon’s extra training sessions as late winner secures Southampton win
Fulham manager Marco Silva said Ryan Sessegnon is reaping the benefits of spending extra time on the training pitch after the Briton scored the winner in Fulham’s comeback defeat of Southampton.
Sessegnon has returned to form of late after rejoining his boyhood club following an injury-riddled spell at Tottenham. He netted his fourth goal of the season today, heading home in the 92nd minute to secure all three points for Fulham as the Lilywhites struggled to break down Southampton’s low block.
Silva said Sessegnon’s extra sessions on the training pitch had prepared him for such moments, enhancing the natural talent which saw him tipped as one of England’s top prospects at youth level.
He said: “[Sessegnon] is a player that always does extra work in terms of finishing and crossing and all of that stuff. But I think it is something natural, he always has the right timing in the box.
“He was up and down the whole game as a left back and was tired in that moment but he believed that he could be decisive and he was.
“We are all delighted for him. He had a few hard seasons but his hard work is paying off.”
The win puts Fulham up to eighth in the Premier League, boosting their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Conference League after suffering back-to-back losses at the hands of Bournemouth and Chelsea.
Silva said he is treating all of their remaining matches as cup finals.
He continued: “The win is what we needed. We wanted to bounce back and reignite the flame for us to fight for what we want.
“We are playing final after final after final and it will be like that every week for the rest of the season.
“This three points is massive for us.”
Fulham’s run-in is far from easy. They visit fellow European hopefuls Aston Villa next time out, before hosting Man City on the final day of the season.
Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit backs Burnley to land Fulham transfer agreement this summer
Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has urged newly-promoted Burnley to sign Harrison Reed from Fulham this summer, as the Clarets look to bolster thier squad for a return to the Premier League.
Scott Parker’s side secured a top flight return at the first time of asking on Easter Monday, beating promotion rivals Sheffield United 2-1 at Turf Moor, which sent both themselves and Leeds United up.
Now officially a Premier League side next season, the Clarets are eyeing up a move for out-of-favour Fulham midfielder Reed this summer, according to GiveMeSport.
The man dubbed the ‘Ginger Iniesta’ has only featured a handful of times for the London club this season, which has seen Parker keen on reuniting with his former player, who featured 56 times in the league for Fulham during the 44-year-old’s tenure at Craven Cottage.
With more football potentially on the cards should he move on, a move for the 30-year-old could suit all parties, as Burnley gear up to try and avoid the drop next season.
David Prutton urges Burnley to land Harrison Reed deal
In an exclusive interview with Football League World, former Nottingham Forest midfielder and Sky Sports pundit David Prutton was quizzed on whether he believes Burnley should pursue the signing of Reed from Fulham after reports emerged of their interest.
“A reunion with Scott Parker? Yeah, I could see that,” Prutton said.
“[It] all depends on the Josh Brownhill situation, who is an exceptional member of that squad.
“If the wages fit and the finances work, I could see him [Reed] being a very solid part of it given his Premier League pedigree, because the first port of call is consolidation completely for this side.
“From what I’ve heard, [he is a] good teammate, [a] low-maintenance member of the group. As I said, if finances fit, and that’s where they’re looking, that’ll work.”
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