Cottagers sweat on striker's fitness

Martin Jol has admitted that he does not know if forward Bryan Ruiz will be fit for Fulham's trip to Reading on Saturday.

The 27-year-old frontman picked up a groin injury while on international duty with Costa Rica in their recent win over El Salvador and subsequently missed last Tuesday's victory over Guyana and then the Cottagers' return to Premier League action against Aston Villa on Saturday. And Cottagers' boss, Jol, has now revealed that Ruiz is already facing a race against time in order to be available for the game at the Madejski Stadium this coming weekend. "He was close," said Jol with regards to Ruiz being fit for the 1-0 home win against Villa. "He was in the line-up and then he did something and slipped and felt his groin again so couldn't be involved. "I don't know [whether he will be fit for this weekend]. I hope so." The Cottagers were boosted by Dimitar Berbatov's return from injury on Saturday and he linked up with Mladen Petric in the attack at Craven Cottage.