Marco Silva Cites Squad Depth Concerns as Alex Iwobi Reaches 100-Game Milestone

Fulham manager Marco Silva has identified a critical shortage of personnel as the primary reason he continues to rely heavily on Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi without respite. Following Fulham’s 2-1 FA Cup comeback victory against Stoke City on Sunday, the Portuguese tactician explained his decision to keep the Nigerian international in the lineup despite rotating almost every other position. Silva performed a massive squad overhaul at the Bet365 Stadium, making ten tactical changes from the side that suffered a midweek defeat to Manchester City, yet Iwobi remained the solitary player to retain his starting role.

The significant rotation meant that fellow Nigerian international Calvin Bassey dropped to the bench, while Samuel Chukwueze missed out on the starting XI entirely. Iwobi has established himself as an indispensable asset for the Cottagers since returning from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, featuring in a remarkable 448 out of 450 possible minutes. Silva admitted that while the player deserves a rest to manage his physical workload, the current squad lacks the necessary depth to replace his specific contributions in the midfield and final third.

“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,” Marco Silva said.

The match carried historical weight for the former Arsenal and Everton standout, as he officially recorded his 100th appearance for Fulham across all competitions. Iwobi nearly celebrated the century mark with a goal after Stoke City opened the scoring, but his glancing header narrowly missed the target, skimming past the left post. His durability remains a standout statistic of the current campaign; the 29-year-old has already participated in 35 fixtures for both club and country since the 2025–2026 season commenced.

Fulham’s progression to the FA Cup fifth round further intensifies a congested schedule that will likely demand even more from the versatile playmaker. Silva praised the overall resilience of his reshuffled team but reiterated that Iwobi’s tactical intelligence and energy levels make him difficult to bench, even during high-frequency fixture periods. As the London club balances its Premier League ambitions with a deep domestic cup run, the management of Iwobi’s fitness will remain a central concern for the coaching staff.