Premier League |
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has every confidence Bobby Zamora can shoulder the Cottagers' attacking burden in the absence of Andrew Johnson.
With Johnson ruled out for the rest of the season after knee surgery, the Cottagers will look to Zamora for the goals to push them up the Premier League table.
The 29-year-old - who was sidelined earlier in the campaign with a broken collarbone - is fit again following a virus, and is set to lead the line against relegation-battlers Burnley on Tuesday night.
Hodgson said: "There is a lot of responsibility on him, but Bobby is used to responsibility and has taken it on his shoulders ever since he came to the club.
"When we were playing well before Christmas, getting through in Europe and doing well in the Premier League, he was in splendid form.
"There will be a lot of weight on his shoulders, but he is big enough to carry it."
Hodgson sees no reason why Johnson, 28, cannot make a full recovery to be a major player for the Cottagers next season.
The Fulham manager said: "He is just relieved in his own mind that they have not only found the problem, they have solved the problem.
"He faces a fairly lengthy spell on the sidelines, but come next season he will join us fully fit, raring to go and with the knee in good condition.
"Andy is an enthusiastic and dedicated footballer. He is still very young with a lot of football left in him."
Hodgson, meanwhile, hopes it will not be a case of deja vu against Burnley on Tuesday night.
The Cottagers made hard work of seeing off the challenge of bottom club Portsmouth last week, when the visitors dominated for long spells before eventually being beaten by a late goal from Jonathan Greening.
Fulham had lost five-successive Premier League games before the victory over Pompey, and picked up another point following a goalless draw at Bolton.
Hodgson, though, knows full well his team must not be complacent against the Clarets, despite their dreadful away record of 11 defeats and one draw.
"On paper, it looks just like the Portsmouth game - it is one which Fulham should comfortably win, but it certainly won't be like that," said Hodgson.
"If ever we needed a reminder, we only have to cast our minds back a week ago.
"Portsmouth came and played very well, and we were fortunate to get away with three points, and Portsmouth were unlucky to go away with nothing.
"That should be uppermost in our mind.
"We should be making sure we keep doing the things which have got us four points from the last two games."
Hodgson added: "We need to remain humble and modest, knowing full well we are not in the form we were in just before Christmas, which is understandable given the fact the team has changed so much.
"We have barely got 18 players. There is no longer a selection problem at this club, it is have we got 18 fit players to fit the 11 spots and fill the substitutes bench.
"Until we get back to a situation where the squad starts to resemble normal size with quality players back, it will be difficult for us."


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