Fulham’s hopes of reeling in teams above them have been played down – as they prepare to host the bottom club.

The Cottagers will close the gap on Albion to four points if they beat Sheffield United at Craven Cottage this evening.

Newcastle, who are one point and ten goals below the Seagulls as they prepare to go to Old Trafford tomorrow evening, are under more threat should Fulham go on a winning run.

But Toon boss Steve Bruce appeared to play down that danger going into the weekend.

Bruce said: “Let’s see where we are at the end of the season.

“Fulham have obviously closed the gap a bit but they’re still struggling to win as well, they’ve only won one in the last 14 games. It’s all to play for.

“We know we’re in the bottom half of the division which means we have to get to the figure as quick as we possibly can.

“You’ve got to quietly get about your job and get the points on the board and that’s what we will be trying to achieve.”

Bruce said that, if Newcastle should be worried about Fulham, then so should other teams too.

He added: “There’s six or seven teams in and around it, we’re a point or two behind two other teams in front of us.”

The Argus:

HE'D LOVE MORE GOALS - BUT POTTER SAYS MAUPAY HAS UPPED HIS GAME

Newcastle will again be without a number of first-team stars, including ten-goal top-scorer Callum Wilson due to a hamstring injury.

Burnley are at home to 19th-placed West Brom today with Jay Rodriguez looking for his 100th goal in league football as he faces his old club.

BISSOUMA SO SORRY FOR SOLLY

IZQUIERDO GETS GAME TIME

Clarets captain Ben Mee returns after sitting out the Fulham game in midweek due to concussion protocols.

Matej Vydra and Chris Wood could return to the squad against their former club but Dale Stephens, who has picked up a knock, and Erik Pieters are expected to miss out.

LAST NIGHT

Wolves 1 Leeds 0.

TODAY

Southampton v Chelsea (12.30pm), Burnley v West Brom (3pm), Liverpool v Everton (5.30pm), Fulham v Sheffield Utd (8pm).

TOMORROW

West Ham v Tottenham (noon), Aston Villa v Leicester (2.05pm), Arsenal v Man City (4.30pm), Man Utd v Leicester (7pm).

MONDAY

Albion v Crystal Palace (8pm).