Fulham lineup vs. Chelsea: Predicted XI for Boxing Day Premier League clash

Fulham manager Marco Silva is facing an injury crisis in midfield ahead of their trip to West London rivals Chelsea in the Premier League on Boxing Day.

The Cottagers could make the trip to Stamford Bridge with just one fit central midfielder, after Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic joined Harrison Reed on the treatment table this week.

Lukic felt a recurrence of shoulder pain in the draw with Southampton on Sunday, while Berge could be set for a lengthier spell out, with Silva revealing his unspecified injury does not look good.

Reed is still recovering from knee surgery and should be back in the new year, leaving Tom Cairney as their only other option, so Andreas Pereira and Alex Iwobi could be given more defensive roles than usual at the Bridge.

Emile Smith Rowe is also unlikely to be involved after he missed the clash with the Saints with a leg injury, meaning 17-year-old Josh King was given his first Premier League start.

This midfield crisis comes just after Silva was able to call upon his first-choice defensive pairing again, with Calvin Bassey back from suspension at the weekend, and Joachim Andersen also recovering from a recent injury, despite being an unused sub.

At full-back though, Kenny Tete will miss the next two months with a knee injury, meaning Timothy Castagne is set for a run in the side, while Reiss Nelson's absence also opens the door for the likes of Adama Traore, Harry Wilson and young Martial Godo, who also made his PL debut at the weekend.

The other decision facing Silva is who to start up front, after Rodrigo Muniz was given the nod over Raul Jimenez for just the second time since August against Southampton, but it is most likely the Mexican will come back, after Fulham fired a blank.

Fulham possible starting lineup: Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Cairney, Pereira, Iwobi; Wilson, Jimenez, Adama

Click here to see how Chelsea could line up for this all-West London clash.