Fulham F.C. manager Marco Silva has explained why he has been unable to hand Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi a much-needed rest despite a packed schedule.
Silva made the disclosure while speaking to FFCtv after Fulham’s FA Cup victory over Stoke City F.C. on Sunday. The Portuguese tactician rotated his squad heavily following the 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City F.C. last Wednesday, making 10 changes to his starting XI.
Iwobi, however, was the only player to retain his place in the lineup.
Due to the extensive rotation, defender Calvin Bassey was left out of the squad, while Samuel Chukwueze did not start the encounter.
Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Iwobi has grown into a pivotal figure for the Cottagers, featuring in 448 out of a possible 450 minutes across competitions. His consistency and fitness have made him almost undroppable in Silva’s plans.
“Alex, another game, he couldn’t rest. Maybe it was a good chance to let him rest, but we don’t have many options to do that, and the backline held up well,” Silva said.
Iwobi came close to marking what would have been his 100th appearance for Fulham with a goal after Stoke opened the scoring, but his header drifted inches wide of the left post.
Since the start of the 2025/2026 season, the former Everton F.C. and Arsenal F.C. star has featured in 35 matches for club and country, underlining his importance to both Fulham and the Nigeria national football team.
