FULHAM'S current squad cost more than £42million to assemble. As City prepare to tackle the rich men from west London the Evening Press takes a closer look at the men from Craven Cottage.

Edwin Van Der Sar
Goalkeeper: Age 31.
Born: Vourhout, Holland.
Previous clubs: Ajax, Juventus.
Signed: August 2001 - £6million.
Debut: v Manchester United (away), August 19, 2001.
The Dutch national team’s number one, Fulham paid a then record fee to prise the 6ft 5in tall custodian from Serie ‘A’ giants Juventus.
Began his career with Ajax, where he won every domestic honour as well as a Champions League medal in 1995.
He then moved to Italy becoming Juve’s first non-Italian goalkeeper.

Also won scudetto honours.
A World Cup and Euro 2000 semi-finalist with Holland, Van Der Sar is rated among the world’s top five goalkeepers.

Steve Finnan
Right-back/ wing-back, winger: Age 25.
Born: Limerick, Ireland.
Previous clubs: Birmingham City, Notts County.
Signed: November 1998 – £600,000.
Debut: v Chesterfield (home) November 21, 1998.
Accomplished defender, who started as a winger with Birmingham City.
Since dropping back has proved himself one of the most consistent performers in the white shirt, recognised by his ascent to the Republic of Ireland team.

Rufus Brevett
Left-back/wing-back: Age 32.
Born: Derby.
Previous clubs: Doncaster Rovers, Queens Park Rangers.
Signed: January 1998 – £350,000.
Debut: v Grimsby Town (home) January 21, 1998.
First made his name with Doncaster Rovers before he linked up with QPR.
It was from there that then Fulham manager Kevin Keegan brought the deadlocked defender to Craven Cottage He was a key member of the Fulham sides that won Second and First Division titles.

Andy Melville
Central defender: Age 33.
Born: Swansea.
Previous clubs: Swansea City, Oxford United, Sunderland.
Signed: July 1999 - free.
Debut: v Birmingham (away) August 7, 1999.
One of the surprise packages in his return to the Premiership.
After leaving Sunderland on a Bosman ruling to join the Cottagers few observers thought he would survive either the incoming of cultured manager Jean Tigana or the eventual return to the top-flight.
But Welsh international Melville has defied the critics and has even blossomed under the French manager’s tuition.

Alain Goma
Central defender: Age 31.
Born: Sault, France.
Previous clubs: Auxerre, Paris St-Germain, Newcastle United.
Signed: March 2001 – £4million.
Debut: v Portsmouth (away) April 21, 2001.
Now flourishing at the heart of the Fulham defence after an acrimonious split from Newcastle United.
Originally made his name as a formidable defender with Auxerre, where he was in the 1996 double-winning side, and then Paris St Germain before going to Tyneside for £4.7million in 1997.
He jumped at the chance to link up with his countryman Tigana.

Jon Harley
Defender: Age 22.
Born: Maidstone.
Previous clubs: Chelsea.
Signed: August 2001 – £3.5million.
Debut: v Manchester United (away) August 19, 2001.
England Under-21 international who came through the ranks at Chelsea.
However, the importation of foreign stars stalled his progress at Stamford Bridge from where he went out on loan to Wimbledon last season.

Abdeslam Ouaddou
Central defender: Age 23.
Born: Morocco.
Previous clubs: Nancy.
Signed: July 2001.
Debut: v Manchester United (away) August 19, 2001.
Highly-rated Moroccan international, who caught Fulham’s eye while starring in central defence for French outfit Nancy.

Zatyihah Knight
Central defender: Age 21.
Born: Solihull.
Previous clubs: Rushall Olympic.
Signed: August 2000.
Debut: v Northampton (home) September 5, 2000.
Up until this season restricted to the occasional appearance in the Worthington Cup, but has shown little fear when pitched into the Premiership this term and is a highly-rated young prospect.

Sean Davis
Midfield: Age 21.
Born: Lambeth.
Previous clubs: None.
Signed: September 1996.
Debut: v Cambridge (home) October 15, 1996.
Arguably Fulham’s greatest asset after coming through the club’s Academy ranks.
He made his debut in a basement clash aged 17, since when he has shown a startling maturity in his progression through every division into the elite.

Has captained England under-21s but rated doubtful tomorrow after breaking his nose in a midweek reserve game.

Sylvain Legwinski
Midfield: Age 28.
Born: Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Previous clubs: Monaco, Bordeaux.
Signed: August 2001 – £3.3million.
Debut: v Derby County (home) August 25, 2001.
All-action midfielder in manager Jean Tigana’s Monaco title-winners in 1996-97. Recruited earlier this season for big money and has not disappointed.

Steed Malbranque
Midfield: Age 22.
Born: Belgium.
Previous clubs: Lyon.
Signed: July 2001.
Debut: v Manchester United (away) August 19, 2001.
Though born in Belgium Malbranque has French nationality and was the captain of their under-18 side, which won the European championships just over two years ago.
Has shown thoroughbred class in his first English season.
As Fulham have struggled for goals Malbranque has often looked their best bet when he gets forward.

John Collins
Midfield: Age 33.
Born: Galashiels, Scotland.
Previous clubs: Hibernian, Glasgow Celtic, Monaco, Everton.
Signed: July 2000 – undisclosed fee.
Debut: v Crewe (home) August 12, 2000.
The ‘Quiet Man’ of the Fulham midfield, but arguably the most influential.
A pedigree performer, whose unruffled temperament was never better illustrated than when he stroked home Scotland’s penalty against holders Brazil in the opening match of the World Cup tournament in France four years ago.
It was in France, where Collins link up with Jean Tigana to great effect at Monaco under the Bosman ruling from Glasgow Celtic. Reunited with Tigana at Fulham 18 months ago.

Lee Clark
Midfield: Age 29.
Born: Wallsend.
Previous clubs: Newcastle United, Sunderland.
Signed: July 1999 – £3million.
Debut: v Birmingham (away) August 7, 1999.
After starring in Fulham’s brace of championship conquests Clark has not enjoyed the best of luck on the club’s ascent to the top-flight.
The energetic midfielder was initially blighted by injury, and then has found his way back into senior contention barred by the success of this season’s summer imports.

Bjarne Goldbaek
Midfield: Age 33.
Born: Denmark
Previous clubs: FC Copenhagen, Schalke 04, Kaiserslautern, FC Cologne, Chelsea.
Signed: January 2000 – £650,000.
Debut: v Grimsby (home) January 22, 2000.
Signed from Chelsea by then Fulham boss Paul Bracewell, the Danish international proved an adroit acquisition but has been mainly sub this season.

Steve Marlet
Striker: Age 27.
Born: Pithiviers.
Previous clubs: Red Star, Auxerre, Lyon.
Signed: August 2001 – £11.5million.
Debut: v Arsenal (home) September 15, 2001.
Pacy Marlet’s capture at £11.5million easily eclipsed the previous record of £6million for goalkeeper Edwin Van De Sar.
During the summer he impressed for the World Cup holders in the Confederations Cup, where he scored his debut international strike against South Korea.

Barry Hayles
Striker: Age 29.
Born: Lambeth.
Previous clubs: Stevenage, Bristol Rovers.
Signed: November 1998 – £2million.
Debut: v Chesterfield (home) November 22, 1998.
The £2million splashed out on former carpenter Hayles from Bristol Rovers is now chicken-feed given the value the bustling forward has given to Fulham. A 19-goal poacher in last season’s Championship success Hayles is now the Cottagers’ leading marksman but is suspended tomorrow.

Louis Saha
Striker: Age 23.
Born: Paris.
Previous clubs: FC Metz, Newcastle United (loan).
Signed: June 2000 – £2.1million.
Debut: v Crewe (home) August 12, 2000.
The flashes of promise that briefly flashed at Newcastle exploded last season when Saha ripped through Division One defences with 32 strikes in all competitions.
Started this season in superb scoring form but is rated doubtful after breaking his nose in the last round against Wycombe.

Luis Boa-Morte
Striker/midfielder: Age 24.
Born: Lisbon, Portugal.
Previous clubs: Sporting Lisbon, Arsenal, Southampton.
Signed: July 2000 – £1.7million.
Debut: v Crewe (home) August 12, 2000.
Transformed from a bit-part role with Arsenal and Southampton by Fulham boss Jean Tigana, Boa-Morte formed an irrepressible trio of hit-men alongside Louis Saha and Barry Hayles last season. Scorer of the fastest strike in the club’s history – a mere 12 seconds away to Bolton. May miss tomorrow through injury.

Maik Taylor
Goalkeeper: Age 30.
Born: Hildeshein, Germany.
Previous clubs: Farnborough, Barnet, Southampton.
Signed: November 1997 – £800,000.
Debut: v York City (home) November 18, 1997.
Can count himself unlucky that his chief rival for the number one role is one of the world’s top custodians in Edwin Van Der Sar.
Taylor, who made his Fulham bow against York City just over four years ago, established himself with Southampton before his move to Fulham.

Paul Trollope
Midfield: Age 31.
Born: Swindon.
Previous clubs: Swindon, Torquay, Derby County.
Signed: November 1997 – £650,000.
Debut: v York City (home) November 18, 1997.
Another of the clan of Welsh internationals at Craven Cottage, Trollope was one of the first recruits under the stewardship of chairman Mohammed Al Fayed.
Ex-Derby man Trollope is equally comfortable in midfield or defence, and like Maik Taylor made his baptism for the Cottagers against the Minstermen.

Andrejs Stolcers
Midfield: Age 27.
Born: Latvia.
Previous clubs: LU/Daugava, Olimpija Riga, Skonto, Shakhtar Donetsk.
Signed: November 2000 – £2million.
Debut: v West Brom (away) December 9, 2000.
Owner of more than 50 international caps with his native Latvia, Stolcers has had outings in the Champions League during a loan spell with Spartak Moscow.

Kevin Betsy
Striker/winger: Age 23.
Born: Seychelles.
Previous clubs; Woking.
Signed: June 1998 – £75,000.
Debut: v Liverpool (away) October 27, 1998.
Utility player, who has also figured as a wing-back.
Has sharpened his skills after loan spells at Hull City and Bournemouth.