Fulham won’t have Brian McBride back in their lineup until mid-January following a setback in his recovery from a long-term knee injury [source]

According to reports McBride had to undergo a series of cortisone injections following consultation from specialists and the setback will likely delay his return to training. Fulham had previously targeted the Wigan game on December 22 for his return. Their medical staff are predicting that the striker may not even have returned to training at this point.

“Brian is looking at a late December return to training and hopefully we will see him available for the first team early in the New Year”, remarked their head physio, Jason Palmer.

McBride has always been a steady, if unspectacular Fantasy points scorer and his continued absence will likely see Laurie Sanchez persevere with the rotation of Dempsey and Kuqi up alongside either Kamara or Healy right through the Christmas period.