Arsenal loanee set to rejoin full training next week

Reiss Nelson is doing individual work on the training pitches with Fulham, with Marco Silva predicting a return to full training next week.

Reiss Nelson is edging closer to a comeback from a serious hamstring injury, and Marco Silva provided a positive update on the winger late last week.

“Reiss Nelson: nice to see him, individual work on the pitch,” Silva said. “Soon we are going to see him, we hope, with the team and fully involved in the training sessions. Probably not next week (w/c January 20th), but the week after.”

Silva had previously stated that he hoped Nelson would be ready by the end of the month, so it seems the 25-year-old is still on track for that target.

Nelson suffered his hamstring injury on December 5th, just moments before he was meant to come off against Brighton and Hove Albion.

The injury was a big blow, particularly as Silva initially suggested he’d miss “probably around 10 weeks”.

Starting that timeline from the day of the injury, a 10-week absence would mean a return on February 13th. Yet it seems Nelson is in line to return sooner than that.

Nelson initially had to fight for starts at Fulham, making six consecutive substitute appearances in the Premier League until he made the lineup for the first time. But he then kept his spot in the team for the following five games.

If not for his hamstring injury, Nelson may have continued to start throughout the festive period. It wasn’t to be, but there’s plenty of time left in the season to make an impact, especially if he’s back before the start of February.

Fulham’s next fixture is against Manchester United on Sunday, January 26th, followed by a game away to Newcastle United the following Saturday, February 1st.