As Fulham prepare for the Premier League’s resumption following the international break, they will be boosted by the return of the top-flight’s signing of the season, Joao Palhinha.
Back from a two-game suspension, the Portuguese midfielder was frustratingly forced to watch from the sidelines as the Cottagers fell to disappointing defeats against Brentford and Arsenal.
Arguably little fanfare was made on Palhinha’s £17.5m arrival from Sporting Lisbon in the summer with the general consensus being if Fulham were to survive back in the top-flight then a midfield battler was merely a prerequisite.
However, the fact the Cottagers have failed to win a Premier League match any time the 27-year-old has not been on the pitch underlines how important he has become to how Marco Silva’s side operate.
With the horror show against Newcastle back in October the other game in question, all three absences have come due to suspension with Palhinha having the unwanted accolade of being the first Premier League player to reach 10 yellow cards this term.
The disciplinary issues are an obvious drawback to his physical and aggressive style but when considering Palhinha is also the player who has made the most tackles in the Premier League this season it’s quickly forgotten.
So far he has made an impressive 101 tackles, 33 interceptions and seven blocked shots.
As a defensive midfielder, Palhinha sits in front of the back four, breaking up opposition play as well as acting as the focal point to Fulham’s own build-up – playing the ball diagonally into the channels for the side’s marauding full-backs and wingers.
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In essence, Palhinha is Fulham’s heart, a vital cog in a well-drilled machine with head coach Silva adding: “He is an important player for us, in so many moments of the game as well as at set-pieces.
“He is a player that covers so many spaces and allows the other midfielders to create more freedom.”
With a passing average of 81.5%, Palhinha’s presence makes those around him look better in the transition from defence to attack.
Yet the reason for Palhinha’s success and instant fan-favourite status is the fact he’s so much more than just those hard-working, tough-tackling defensive duties.
Few inside Craven Cottage would be able to forget the screamer he scored against Leeds United to book the side’s FA Cup Quarter-Final showdown with Manchester United – the strike being his fourth goal of the season in all competitions.
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Obviously the concern is that his performances have alerted bigger sides such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle and Arsenal.
Having signed a five-year contract though, the club can treat any potential approach from a position of power while the January signing of Sasa Lukic also suggests the club are aware of any potential interest.
Whatever the future holds, Fulham’s excellent Premier League return has been down to players such as Palhinha – temporarily being without him may have been a hindrance, but a more permanent absence would be a bigger growing pain.