Stekelenburg still number one – boss

Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen has insisted that Maarten Stekelenburg is still very much his number one goalkeeper and will replace David Stockdale when he is passed fit to return.

Stockdale, 28, has produced some eye-catching saves while Stekelenburg has been sidelined recently.

But Meulensteen said: “Nothing has changed in my mind about who is the number one – it is still Maarten Stekelenburg.

“It’s important you’re clear. Maarten didn’t go out of the team because of a lack of form, he went out of the team because he was injured.

“What you really want is what David Stockdale produced – a top-draw second goalkeeper that can step in and really keep the level to where you want it to be. That’s the key.”

Stockdale has made only 39 appearances since joining the Whites from Darlington in June 2008.

He has had loan spells at Rotherham, Leicester, Plymouth, Ipswich, and two separate stints at Hull.

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