Jol backs Fulham to bounce back

After starting the season brightly despite a number of high-profile departures, the Cottagers' lack of squad depth has been brought into sharp focus.

The 1-0 defeat of Aston Villa in mid-October was the west London side's last victory, meaning it faces Newcastle United on Monday evening (Tuesday morning AEDT) without a win in seven attempts.

Fulham is also two minutes shy of going a full five hours without scoring and Jol knows his side needs a morale-boosting three points.

"I don't think it was a big problem before the Sunderland game (where Fulham lost 3-1) so for us failure and success is an unbelievably thin line," the Dutchman said.

"We had a loss after that against Stoke, then we had a draw at Chelsea and lost against Spurs so everything happened in two weeks.

"We have to pick up ourselves and pick up some points.

"Even in the first half against Spurs we had three or four chances - more chance than they had, more attempts on goal.

"Against Sunderland, for example, before Brede Hangeland's red card, I thought we were the better team.

"That was probably the biggest disappointment because those three points would have given us 20 points.

"It all started on that day and we got injuries to Bryan Ruiz and Alex Kacaniklic so after that we had to change things and I feel we are good enough to come up with a solution."

Jol can welcome Hangeland and Kacaniklic back from suspension and injury respectively, although Ruiz remains sidelined after suffering setback in his recovery from a hamstring complaint.

Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is set to start again despite some questioning his display in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, where he was at fault for Sandro's opener.

"It is always the same," Jol said. "Three weeks ago we were all very happy at Fulham and two weeks later the situation totally changes.

"It is the same with goalkeepers. You make one mistake and everyone will doubt your quality and talk about it, but he is strong enough.

"He is a very good goalkeeper. He saved a lot of points for us so he will be back."

Jol has also been impressed by Schwarzer's opposite number, Tim Krul.

The 24-year-old has established himself as Newcastle's first-choice goalkeeper and become a regular for Netherlands.

"He is good and young," Jol said of his countryman. "It will be the first time a guy like him is a regular in the national team.

"Normally we have they likes of Hans van Breukelen and Edwin van der Sar - quite old goalkeepers.

"Van der Sar probably had his breakthrough while he was here at Fulham when he was 30 or something.

"Krul is a big talent, good goalkeeper, but we've got the other guy at Swansea, Michel Vorm. He is very talented, maybe one of the most talented ones.

"Krul is versatile, big but don't forget that we've got one of the best in Europe, Maarten Stekelenburg. I had him at Ajax and he is a good goalkeeper."

Another player Jol had during his time as Ajax coach was Vurnon Anita, who has become an increasingly important player at Newcastle since his northern summer arrival.

"He is a number four, he is a holding midfield player," Jol said.

"I can remember going there and he didn't play. I had a problem at left-back so played him there.

"After a couple of months he played in the national team, so he is very versatile.

"He can play left-back and right-back but his best position is probably the number four position.

"As you well know, it is not easy for players who come from foreign countries to settle straight away and that is why he needed a couple of months."