Fulham manager Silva says they won because scorers Bassey and Iwobi are back from Nations Cup

FULHAM manager Marco Silva has lauded the contribution of his two Super Eagles' players to the team's league victory at Old Trafford yesterday after Calving Bassey and Alex Iwobi both got on the score sheet to help their team clinch three precious points.

After yesterday's win, Fulham are now sitting 21th in the 20-team league table with 32 points and are now safe bets to avoid the relegation dogfight that characterises the end of the season.  Iwobi and Bassey were both away with Nigeria for the African Cup of Nations which took place between January 13 and February 11, during which Fulham one won one league game, at home to Bournemouth.

Clearly feeling the absence of both players, Fulham were nowhere near at their best while the duo were away but yesterday, they were back to their imperial best at Old Trafford.  After a good spell, Bassey gave the visitors the lead with a firm, right-footed finish in the 65th minute, while Iwobi sealed the victory with the winner deep into injury time.

Bassey's strike was his first goal for Fulham since joining from Ajax last summer, helping the team to their first away win at Old Trafford since 2003. After the game, Mr Silva, elated with Iwobi's last minute winner after Harry Maguire had equalised in the 89th minute, confessed that Iwobi and Bassey are key players for his side.

Mr Silva said: “They were decisive in terms of the goals. It just shows how they are important for us in the way I want to play. It’s really nice to see both scoring goals and helping us to win.

"The two players were at the Africa Cup of Nations and we missed them. It's always an important moment scoring your first goal but not just Bassey this afternoon."

It remains to be seen if the two players can convince team mate Tosin Adarabioyo to switch his allegiance to Nigeria too. English-born Adarabioyo is a centreback who pairs Bassey in the heart of the Fulham defence but he is yet to declare his commitment to play for Nigeria, although he recently said he is open to considering the move.