Clark likely to sit out start

Fulham captain Lee Clark is expected to miss the start of the season due to an Achilles injury.

The midfielder had surgery to cure the problem last season but has suffered further problems.

Club physio Jason Palmer said: "We suspect he has a minor infection in his surgical scar. He's subsequently had some treatment and we hope he'll be back running either towards the end of this week or early next week."

Steed Malbranque (groin) is also on the sidelines for Fulham, who play Feyenoord on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the club face being banned for the second time this year from making any international transfers.

The first ban was implemented in January by FIFA, football's world governing body, because of an outstanding £3.2million debt to Lyon from the £11.5m transfer of Steve Marlet in July 2001.

Faced with the ban, Fulham made a swift payment to the French club but they could find themselves being handed a second ban over allegations they failed to pay Metz £1.3m in commission over the sale of Louis Saha.