Fulham have suffered a double injury blow as striker Brian McBride has picked up a knee injury while scoring the opening goal for Lawrie Sanchez’s side and new signing Hameur Bouazza is also injured, against Middlesbrough at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

An unmarked McBride scored an easy goal from the box in the 16th minute but immediately fell to the ground and clutched his knee with both hands and was visibly in lot of pain. He left the field on stretcher and was replaced by Diomansy Kamara.

The 35-year-old American international, who seems to have done his ligaments some damage, has been an integral part of the Cottagers set-up. He scored nine goals in last Premiership season.

The Cottagers led 1-0 at half time but they had effected two substitutions by then as McBride was followed to treatment room by Bouazza, who was replaced by Clint Dempsey, on 35 minutes.