Fulham hope Tom Cairney will join the matchday squad "soon" after taking part in first team training over the international break.

The skipper has been out since the 2-0 win over Ipswich in August with a knee injury, something the club have been very careful in managing over the course of the season so far.

Manager of first team medical and sports science, Marco Cesarini, is hopeful that Cairney will return soon but wants to see how his knee reacts from the workload before putting him back in contention.

He told Fulham FC TV:"Tom Cairney is missing now for a while and is dealing with a knee inflammation.

"It's a very delicate situation and he's working very hard to come back into contention - it's been a positive week so far so we are a little bit more optimistic at the moment.

"We need to see how the knee reacts from the load and hopefully he will join the squad soon."

Meanwhile, Cesarini also gave updates on other members of the first team squad, with both Rafa Soares and Floyd Ayite back in contention for a place in the matchday squad for tomorrow's game with Preston.

Aboubakar Kamara's injury is still being managed but is close to being back, while Cesarini believes Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo will be back training in two to three months after suffering a dislocated shoulder against QPR.