Roy Hodgson has admitted Fulham are in negotiations to improve Brede Hangeland's contract in order to ward off interest from top-flight rivals.The Norway captain has been a big success in his 14 months at Craven Cottage, helping Fulham avoid relegation last season and achieve a top-10 place this term.
Hodgson said: "We have had plans for a while to talk to him a) about an extension and b) about improving his contract. That's in hand."
Hangeland has made it clear he is currently happy to stay at Fulham but Hodgson know the 27-year-old could soon be the subject of a resolve-testing bid with both Manchester City and Arsenal known admirers.
He said: "If it happens, it happens and we will deal with it the best we can but in the meantime Brede and other players who might interest other clubs are still here and we will do our best to keep them."
Hull's first top-flight fixture saw them beat Fulham 2-1 at the KC Stadium in August as Phil Brown's side became the great success story of the first half of the season
The Tigers have found points harder to come by recently however and they will arrive in London without having tasted victory in their last 11 league outings.
Hodgson said: "At the moment they are not going through such a successful spell but their fine form at the start of the season has given them a very good platform and we know we will have to be at our best if we are to get a result.
"Winning matches in the Premier League is hard for anybody. And once you start losing one or two it is easy to get into a spiral.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
watch Blackburn Rovers v Everton live online streaming
Jason Brown is relishing the prospect of Blackburn's relegation fight - and insists he prefers the pressure to being in mid-table obscurity.The 26-year-old Londoner is set to take Paul Robinson's place in nets for Blackburn when Everton travel to Ewood Park on Wednesday night, having stepped in at half-time when the England keeper was injured against Hull on Sunday.
Robinson is a major doubt, and Brown said: "I haven't had many chances so I will do my best to grab this one.
"This might sound silly but being stuck in mid-table you don't have anything to play for. Being at the top or in a relegation fight is what's exciting.
"The pressure that's on us is fantastic. I was saying to the boys yesterday there's nothing better than going away and beating teams like Hull and their fans are going mad at you.
"Feeling the buzz and the nervousness is great, playing in the pressure of the Premier League is what it's all about."
Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has been impressed by Brown but does not agree with all his sentiments.
Allardyce said: "It's going to be touch and go with Paul, we'll give it until the morning but it's doubtful.
"Jason did well on Sunday so he may get another chance. A strong mentality should stand him in good stead but I for one would settle for mid-table obscurity right now - but we are a long way from that at the moment."
David Dunn is back in training after a hamstring problem and could step in to left midfield to replace the suspended Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Everton, in sixth place in the table and pushing Arsenal for fifth, are daunting opponents, especially as their away form is better than their home record.
Robinson is a major doubt, and Brown said: "I haven't had many chances so I will do my best to grab this one.
"This might sound silly but being stuck in mid-table you don't have anything to play for. Being at the top or in a relegation fight is what's exciting.
"The pressure that's on us is fantastic. I was saying to the boys yesterday there's nothing better than going away and beating teams like Hull and their fans are going mad at you.
"Feeling the buzz and the nervousness is great, playing in the pressure of the Premier League is what it's all about."
Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has been impressed by Brown but does not agree with all his sentiments.
Allardyce said: "It's going to be touch and go with Paul, we'll give it until the morning but it's doubtful.
"Jason did well on Sunday so he may get another chance. A strong mentality should stand him in good stead but I for one would settle for mid-table obscurity right now - but we are a long way from that at the moment."
David Dunn is back in training after a hamstring problem and could step in to left midfield to replace the suspended Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Everton, in sixth place in the table and pushing Arsenal for fifth, are daunting opponents, especially as their away form is better than their home record.
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