Ankle Injury Keeps Antonee Robinson Out of Fulham's Trip to Ipswich

Antonee Robinson's ankle injury has denied Fulham one of their key players at exactly the moment they need him most. The United States international was absent from the matchday squad as the Cottagers travelled to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town in Saturday's Premier League action, and his absence comes after a week that began with high hopes.

Robinson, 29, played in all four of the United States' matches in the recent international window, starting twice as the Americans won every game. He returned to club duty this week but suffered an ankle problem in training on Thursday. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa admitted he was uncertain whether the left-back would be ready. By Saturday, the decision had been made: Robinson would sit out, with Timothy Castagne also dropping out as Kenny Tete and Ryan Sessegnon came into the full-back positions.

Robinson has started all five of Fulham's league matches this season and has been a vital attacking outlet on the left flank. His absence stings even more given the club's desperate need for a result — Fulham went into the Ipswich game still searching for their first league win, with three defeats and two draws from five matches. The hope at both Fulham and the United States will be that the injury is short-term, with the USMNT next in action in November for a two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti.