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Issa Diop is fully expected to be involved in the pre-season game at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Fears that he may have sustained a back problem were dismissed by the club this morning with a source telling CandH: “He is available for selection.

“The main issue he didn’t appear against Newcastle was because he had played a full 90 minutes against Manchester City. He may have felt a twinge but we are told it’s nothing of any consequence.”

Diop was understood to be back for training at Rush Green where he and the rest of the squad met up with new boys Pablo Fornals and Seb Haller for the first time.

They too are expected to be involved in the run out against Fulham following transfers to the club totalling around €70 million.

It’s the first of three games in three games with an away fixture against Hertha Berlin next Wednesday followed bythe first London Stadium match against Athletico Bilbao on August 3.