Calvin Bassey should slot straight back into Fulham's XI

Jorge Cuenca has performed admirably, but our 2024/25 POTS should return from AFCON as our starting centre-back.

Copyright Leighton Rudd 2025

The AFCON boys are back! And, boy, did we… cope so well without them.

Bar the debacle at Elland Road on the weekend, our time without Messrs Iwobi, Chukwueze and Bassey has been almost flawless - something no one (except Dan Cooke) could have predicted.

Jorge Cuenca has certainly played his part in that. The summer was punctuated by cries of #FreeCuenca from his adoring fans, all fuming that the Spanish centre-back wasn’t getting a look in at the Cottage.

Even then, we’d all seen enough of the man brought in from Villareal to know those calls were justified; every time he comes in, he shows he’s a top-level defender, and this period’s been no different.

All that being said, for me (Clive), Calvin Bassey has got to come back in, if not for the visit of Brighton this Saturday, then certainly for our trip to Old Trafford.

Calvin wasn’t rotated out for tactical reasons. He’s not been on the treatment table. He’s been arguably Nigeria’s best player as they marched towards the AFCON semi-finals, ultimately finishing third.

The tournament (shambolic though it’s been in places) has been Calvin’s coming out party and he’s been considered by many as the tournament’s best defender. Neutrals have tuned in and been impressed his performances. His stock’s never been higher, leading to the likes of Inter Milan casting their eye over him.

I mentioned the “use him or lose him” ultimatum from the Cuencaholics earlier - and the same is certainly true for Bassey.

Contract length isn’t an issue; Calvin has a deal to the summer of 2027, with the club having an option which they’ll obviously take, so we have him for at least another two-and-a-half years. But we’d be foolish to have last year’s player of the season become disenchanted.

Cuenca is the same age as Bassey and has a tremendous upside. He has an authority and a calmness on the ball that gives us all a certain serenity in the stands, but I personally find Bassey the more exciting player. His ability to bring the ball forwards out of defence - and his penchant for popping up with a goal or two - make him more enjoyable to watch.

All that came home to roost last season with his POTS-winning campaign - and, lest we forget, he came second in the voting in his first season at the club. But it’s not all been plain sailing. A rare dip in form earlier this season (when, let’s be honest, most were playing below-par) drew calls for Cuenca to come in, but Bassey rallied and left for AFCON fresh off a curse-busting win at Turf Moor, during which he scored our second.

Ultimately, we’re in a wonderful position whatever happens. We’re blessed in central defence, especially when you factor in how capably Issa Diop has performed when called on. Player for player, we probably have the best centre-back quartet outside the top six. But, I think there’s a clear hierarchy between first and second choice, so it shouldn’t be too long before Calvin slots back in and picks up where he left off.