Silva Retains Iwobi in Fulham's FA Cup Victory Lineup

Marco Silva, the head coach of Fulham, addressed the media following the team's FA Cup victory against Stoke City on Sunday. He explained his decision to retain Alex Iwobi in the starting lineup, despite the club's congested fixture schedule.

Silva noted that squad limitations made it challenging to rest players, leading him to make ten changes from the side that lost 3-0 to Manchester City on Wednesday. Iwobi's consistent performances have been crucial, as he has played 448 to 450 minutes across competitions and has been a prominent figure in the midfield since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Silva highlighted that Iwobi is nearing his 100th appearance for Fulham, having scored a header that drifted just wide of the left post against Stoke City. The former Everton and Arsenal player has participated in 35 matches for the club and country, underscoring his growing influence within Fulham and the Nigerian national team.