Hughes calls for strong finish

Fulham manager Mark Hughes is determined to finish the Premier League season strongly, as his team prepare to face Liverpool on Monday.

Despite being ninth in the Premier League table and securing their safety, Hughes has called upon his players to try to win their three remaining league games in order to bring in the club’s biggest ever points haul in the top flight.

“If we get maximum points out of every game we have left then I think that’s the highest total ever that a Fulham team has reached in the Premier League,” Hughes said.

“So that’s a challenge for us and that’s something that we’ll use as a motivation going into these last three games.”

The West London club had been on the brink of relegation until a string of better results against Wolves, Bolton, and Sunderland moved them into the top half of the table.

“It was difficult at the beginning of the season but, as we come to the climax of it, we’ve been really pleased with what we’ve been able to produce,” Hughes said.

Fulham will be boosted by the return of top goal scorer Clint Dempsey, as the USA midfielder looks to have overcome a hamstring injury in time to face Liverpool.

“He (Dempsey) was a bit stiff in his hamstrings on the Friday prior to the Sunderland game, so there was no point in risking him,” Hughes said.

“I took the view to leave him behind and he’s benefited from that and he should be okay.”

Meanwhile winger Damien Duff is set to miss out the rest of the season, as he has undergone an operation on his Achilles. Zoltan Gera (ankle) is also set to miss Monday’s game at Craven Cottage.

Hughes added: “Damien Duff has had an operation on his Achilles; the view is that there will probably be a six-week recovery, and then he’ll be fit and well for next season.”

“Zoltan Gera went over on his ankle on Thursday, so he’s still on the treatment table.”

Hughes remains wary of the threat of the newly acquired Liverpool strike force of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez leading the line for the Merseyside club.

“Right through the history of football there have been great partnerships and there are always examples of where one player triggers off the good, positive parts of another player,” he said.

“And there are signs that there’s the possibility Carroll and Suarez will continue in the same vein and be a very strong partnership for Liverpool for years to come.”

Thu 5 May, 2011