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Which Fulham players stood out in pre-season?
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- Which Fulham players stood out in pre-season?
(Reuters)
Tom Masters talks through Fulham 's pre-season.
Fulham's pre-season is done and it is now time to look fully ahead at the new season, with the Premier League fast approaching.
Alvaro Arbeloa oversaw six matches as his new club's preparation got under way, with the Cottagers taking on sides from the Championship, Saudi Arabia , Portugal , the Premier League, Spain and Germany along the way.
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Pre-season is of course primarily about getting players up to scratch ahead of the new season and making sure they are fit and firing.
And therefore performances are not necessarily the be-all and end-all, but this summer there have clearly been some stand-out performers and we take you through all the players who look set to begin the season all guns blazing.
Full-backs
If there is anything to take notice of from this pre-season, it is undeniably the impact of the full backs this summer for Fulham.
It undeniably would appear that they have a new lease of life under Alvaro Arbeloa and there were some impressive performances going forward from full-backs on both sides of the back four.
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Not least that came from Antonee Robinson scoring and Ryan Sessegnon bagging two goals, while Timothy Castagne scored himself in the 1-0 win over Stuttgart at Craven Cottage and set up both goals in the 2-2 draw against Malaga.
Under Marco Silva, the full-backs were effectively only essential for defending with the occasional goal, it appears under Arbeloa, they are going to be bombing forward and important for the attacking build-up.
Alex Iwobi
Alex Iwobi has been an important player at Fulham for a number of seasons now and it would appear that is only going to continue this term.
The Nigerian international has been used as a left winger, No. 10 and in the pivot, and his flexibility is another very useful asset.
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But he also looks to be in fine form in front of goal, no matter which position he plays, having scored two goals and provided two assists throughout pre-season.
Where he is most likely to play this season is up for grabs, as Fulham have a bit of depth in all the areas he can play but he is very clearly in form and set for another big season in white.
Positive signs for Oscar Bobb
Oscar Bobb joined Fulham from Manchester City last January but wasn't really able to properly embed himself into the team in the few months he had at Craven Cottage.
He was at the very least useful for Norway at the World Cup in the summer, however, and that appears to have stuck with him as he returned to life in west London.
He provided one assist for something tangible but it was his overall sharpness that will have pleased Arbeloa and it would appear that he will be involved heavily for Fulham this season.
