Fulham boss Hodgson: Damien Duff and Stephen Kelly are distraught at Ireland World Cup exit

Roy Hodgson admitted Republic of Ireland duo Damien Duff and Stephen Kelly were disconsolate when they returned to Craven Cottage after the World Cup defeat in Paris.

But the Fulham boss insisted he has no concerns about including both players in his squad to face Birmingham this afternoon.

He said: “Both of them are intelligent footballers and they know there is no option but to get over it and wait for the pain to pass.

“It will take a long time because, to be so close to a World Cup and not get there on a clearly incorrect refereeing decision, there is clearly nothing you can say that will make the pain any easier for them.”  

Fulham will once again be without striker Andy Johnson and midfielder Danny Murphy while Diomansy Kamara is also out with a knee problem.