Iwobi Stays! Silva Reveals Why Star Midfielder Starts Despite FA Cup Glory

Fulham manager Marco Silva has shed light on why he has been unable to give Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi a rest, despite the club facing a congested schedule.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking to FFCtv after Fulham’s FA Cup triumph over Stoke City on Sunday, Silva revealed that limited squad options made it difficult to leave Iwobi out of the starting lineup.

The Portuguese coach made 10 changes from the team that suffered a 3–0 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday, but Iwobi was the only player retained in the lineup.

As a result of the rotation, fellow Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey was omitted from the squad, while winger Samuel Chukwueze also missed out on starting.

Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Iwobi has been one of Fulham’s most reliable performers, featuring heavily in recent matches. The midfielder has logged 448 out of a possible 450 minutes across all competitions, underlining his importance to Silva’s side.

Explaining his decision to start Iwobi once again, Silva emphasized the club’s depth concerns.

“Alex couldn’t rest in this game. Perhaps it would have been a good chance to give him a break, but we don’t have many alternatives, and the backline performed well,” Silva said.

Iwobi came close to marking what would have been his 100th appearance for Fulham with a goal, but his header following Stoke City’s opener narrowly missed the left post.

Since the beginning of the 2025–2026 season, the former Everton and Arsenal star has played 35 matches for both club and country, highlighting his increasing influence for Fulham and the Nigerian national team.