Fulham entertain CSKA Sofia at Craven Cottage on Thursday evening in a crucial Group E clash in the Europa League where only a win will do for Roy Hodgson and his troops.

After picking up just one point from their double-header with Claudio Ranieri's AS Roma side, Fulham find themselves third in Group C on five points, four behind group leaders FC Basel, and two behind the Giallorossi.

CSKA Sofia should not prove too much of a struggle for the Cottagers having lived up to their billing as the group's whipping boys.

Despite sitting second in the Bulgarian league, CSKA have picked up just one point in their whole Europa League campaign, which incidentally was at home to Fulham on Matchday 1 when the pair drew 1-1.

This is sure to fill the home side with optimism going into the match and having scored four times in their last two matches at Craven Cottage, goals may not be too much of a problem.

Defeat is not an option for Fulham especially given the fact that the top two are set to lock horns at the Stadio Olimpico meaning that the West London outfit will be keen to capitalise as they target one of the top two automatic qualification spots.

Team News:

Fulham will be able to call upon captain Danny Murphy and striker Bobby Zamora, who were both initially doubtful for the clash.

Roy Hodgson will be ruing the fact that striker Erik Nevland, full-back Paul Konchesky and winger Jonathan Greening must sit out the match through suspension.

CSKA Sofia will be devastated be the news that striker Ivan Stoyanov, who has netted nine goals in all competitions for his club, has not even travelled to London.

Young coach Luboslav Penev will be hoping that the likes of midfielder Tudor Timonov, Portuguese striker Rui Miguel and talented Brazilian striker Michel Platini (yes that is his name!) can upset the hosts.

Probable Line-Ups; *Star Man:

Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Kelly; Riise, Etuhu, Murphy, Gera; Dempsey, Zamora*

CSKA Sofia (4-4-2): Chavdarov; Stoyanov, Vidanov, Yanchev, Branekov; Timonov, Petrov, Zehirov, Manchev; Michel Platini*, Rui Miguel

ExtraFootie Prediction: Fulham 2 - 1 CSKA Sofia. In a match they need to win, we fancy Roy Hodgson's men to do the business as they plot a way into the knockout stages.