Saints Marching
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Fulham vs Southampton: Carabao Cup – Opposition Threats

By Harry Tizard

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion at Craven Cottage on January 29, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion at Craven Cottage on January 29, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Ivan Cavaleiro of Fulham in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on August 21, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Ivan Cavaleiro of Fulham in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on August 21, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /

Ivan Cavaleiro

With Fulham losing Ryan Babel on the left hand side, they needed a man to replace his eight goal involvements in the 2018/19 campaign. Portuguese winger Ivan Cavaleiro was that man. Brought in on loan from Premier League side Wolves, Cavaleiro has hit the ground running. In five appearances so far, the former Portugal under twenty one international has already had a hand in four goals (3 goals, one assist) including two long range strikes against Huddersfield and Millwall respectively. On both occasions, the former Benfica winger cut inside from his natural left wing position to find space on the edge of the box and hit a curling strike into the far right hand corner – very similar to the movement and technique attached with Phillipe Coutinho when playing out on the wing for Liverpool.

Cavaleiro brings experience at this level of football, with his contributions in the 2017/18 Championship season with Wolves key in their promotion. In that season, the twenty five year old did not only score on nine occasions, but assisted twelve – numbers Fulham fans hope will push them towards automatic promotion places this season.

The attacker, who can play all across the front line, was limited to just under seven hundred minutes of football last season, but was still able to contribute to four goals – including the first in a 2-0 Wolves victory against the Saints.