DICKSON Etuhu he is 'well off the pace' in terms of his match fitness, but still believes he will be up to speed in time for Fulham's first steps into the Europa cup next Thursday.

The midfielder, such an essential component of Roy Hodgson's team, did not travel with the rest of the squad on their pre-season tour to Australia – he was granted dispensation because of his involvement in Nigeria's summer World Cup qualifiers.

Monday was the first time he had hooked up with his team-mates since the end of last season.

He played for most of Tuesday night's 0-0 draw at Bournemouth, but that does not leave much time ahead of the trip to HJK Helsinki or FK Vetra next week for the first leg of the team's first European tie since 2002.

“I haven't done really done anything for a month and have only just got back with the lads so I'm nowhere near there,” Etuhu conceded.

“But it was good to touch a ball again this week. My team-mates are fitter than me at the moment, not doubt about it, but I will get my fitness quickly, I'm lucky like that.”

Etuhu added: “The serious games start again next week, but the way I look at it we have another game before then [at Peterborough on Saturday] and the best part of two weeks to get ready and that should be enough.

“We've got to go out there and do our stuff. It doesn't matter who we come up against, we've just got to make sure we play our game.”

Etuhu says he is determined to make the most of the Euro experience.

“We are looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “We are all excited about playing abroad in Europe. It's a great achievement to be there and we are not thinking about the demands it will make on us. We just want to take full advantage of where we are and what we have in front of us.

“We've done well to get there but that's all in the past now and we've got to look forward to try to do better. That's what the manager keeps telling us.”