Fulham v Blackpool: Build-up, team news and live match updates

The Seasiders will have to do without Kevin Stewart, although this time it won’t be as a result of injury.

The midfielder has been called up to the Jamaican squad for their World Cup qualifiers and will miss the visit to Craven Cottage as a result.

It’s a far from ideal situation for Neil Critchley’s side, who had only just seen Stewart get back to fitness after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

It leaves Pool light on options in central midfield, as Kenny Dougall, Ethan Robson and Callum Connolly - who is predominately a defender - as the only three players available.

Elsewhere, Pool are without eight players through injury in Chris Maxwell (quad), Luke Garbutt (knee), James Husband (hamstring), Reece James (hamstring), Matty Virtue (ACL), Grant Ward (achilles), Sonny Carey (metatarsal) and Keshi Anderson (hamstring).

Garbutt became the latest player to join the sidelines after suffering a Grade 2 posterior cruciate ligament injury during last week’s 1-0 win against Millwall.

According to the defender, it will leave him out for around 10 weeks.

With James and Husband already injured, it means the Seasiders are without a recognised left-back.

It could mean Dujon Sterling fills in there again, as he did so well after Garbutt hobbled off last week, or the Seasiders could well change their shape.

Jordan Thorniley, who was recently recalled from his loan at Oxford United, is also left-sided and could cover there in an emergency.

Charlie Kirk could be in line to make his debut after sealing a loan move from Charlton Athletic on Thursday, with the deal including an option to buy.

Fulham, meanwhile, are boosted by the return of Harry Wilson and top goalscorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, who missed last week’s win against Stoke City.

Blackpool look to maintain their 100 per cent winning run in the league in 2022 when they take on runaway leaders Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The Seasiders head to the capital off the back of consecutive 1-0 home wins against Hull City and Millwall.

It leaves Neil Critchley’s side in 12th place in the table, eight points adrift of the play-offs with a game in hand.

The odds will be stacked against them this weekend though against a rampant Fulham side who sit five points clear at the top of the table.

Marco Silva’s side have started the New Year with a bang, winning all four league games with 22 goals being scored in the process.

The Cottagers have hit the back of the net an extraordinary 73 times already this season from just 27 games.

Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 27 league goals on his own, just one fewer than Blackpool’s overall tally.

However, a win for Blackpool on Saturday would complete a league double over Fulham, having earned a 1-0 victory back at Bloomfield Road back in September courtesy of Josh Bowler’s fine solo effort.

Peter Bankes, who refereed Blackpool’s 3-0 defeat to Luton Town earlier in the season, is the man in charge.

And welcome to today’s live blog.

The Seasiders will be out to claim what would be considered an unlikely league double against the runaway league leaders, who have been free-scoring in recent weeks. But the odds will certainly be stacked against them.

Follow the blog for build-up, team news and live match updates.