HODGSON LOOKING FORWARD TO AJ-ZAMORA PARTNERSHIP
Roy Hodgson can't wait for the day when he inks Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora's
names on his Fulham team sheet, as he believes that the two summer signings
will form a formidable attacking partnership.
Former Everton forward Johnson will not feature on Saturday when Fulham host
Arsenal - Hodgson wants the 27-year-old to have fully shaken off his thigh
strain. The £10.5m man now looks likely to make his debut against Bolton next
month.
"I'm not very hopeful that [Johnson] will play against Arsenal," said Hodgson
of the England international.
"Due to the transfer taking a long time, and due to Everton not using him for
fear that he might be transferred, he has not had much chance to get match fit.
"We will use the three-week period between Arsenal and Bolton to make certain
that we get him into tip-top condition, not just medically but also
physically."
Hodgson is licking his lips at the prospect of pairing Johnson with Zamora, who
cost £4m from West Ham last month. He continued: "It is the partnership that we
have prepared for.
"It will take a little time to work - the greatest partnerships in the past,
like Toshack and Keegan, or Rush and Dalglish, didn't get great overnight. They
came from playing together for long periods of time.
"We do the work on the training pitch but it is seeing it succeed in matches
that really make people believe in good partnerships. We are confident that we
can get that partnership working well."
Roy Hodgson can't wait for the day when he inks Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora's
names on his Fulham team sheet, as he believes that the two summer signings
will form a formidable attacking partnership.
Former Everton forward Johnson will not feature on Saturday when Fulham host
Arsenal - Hodgson wants the 27-year-old to have fully shaken off his thigh
strain. The £10.5m man now looks likely to make his debut against Bolton next
month.
"I'm not very hopeful that [Johnson] will play against Arsenal," said Hodgson
of the England international.
"Due to the transfer taking a long time, and due to Everton not using him for
fear that he might be transferred, he has not had much chance to get match fit.
"We will use the three-week period between Arsenal and Bolton to make certain
that we get him into tip-top condition, not just medically but also
physically."
Hodgson is licking his lips at the prospect of pairing Johnson with Zamora, who
cost £4m from West Ham last month. He continued: "It is the partnership that we
have prepared for.
"It will take a little time to work - the greatest partnerships in the past,
like Toshack and Keegan, or Rush and Dalglish, didn't get great overnight. They
came from playing together for long periods of time.
"We do the work on the training pitch but it is seeing it succeed in matches
that really make people believe in good partnerships. We are confident that we
can get that partnership working well."
Labels: Andy Johnson, Arsenal, Bobby Zamora, Everton, Fulham, Premier League, Roy Hodgson
