MY ACCOUNT
Serbia head coach Dragan Stojkovic has no concerns Aleksandar Mitrovic will miss the World Cup – even if he has to go to Qatar “without a leg”.
Mitrovic has impressed for Fulham in the Premier League this season with nine goals in 12 games but missed the last two matches due to a foot injury.
Fulham head coach Marco Silva suggested the Serbia international may be a doubt for the World Cup prior to Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
While Silva admitted fears over Mitrovic’s chances at the World Cup, Stojkovic reiterated his more defiant stance as he suggested the Fulham forward would play on one leg.
“Mitrovic will go to the World Cup without a leg, we can also cut off his head — he’ll still go,” he added. “We have until tonight to change things, but I strongly doubt anything will change.
“We’ll see today when they come [for training]. With his behaviour and games, and the injuries he had… He begged to play after that.”
Stojkovic remains confident the 28-year-old will be fit for Serbia’s Group G opener against Brazil on November 24, along with Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who has been sidelined with a groin issue.
Stojkovic said: “I don’t like when my players don’t play because of injuries. It’s obvious that they are out of the team for a long time and it’s good that I firmly believe that they will be ready.
“We are working on it. There is a song by Aleksandra Prijovic that says: ‘It’s not who was told, but who was destined’.
“I haven’t seen the players yet, but now I’m going to hang out with the doctors. I guess the players will arrive by [6pm, for training].
“There are problems and small problems, but there is still a long time before the match with Brazil, this [friendly on Friday] against Bahrain is not important for us.”
