Bryan Ruiz confident he can provide Fulham goals

(GETTY IMAGES)

Bryan Ruiz believes he can help provide the goals Fulham have lacked so far this season.

The 26-year-old winger watched from the stands last night as the Cottagers suffered a last-gasp 1-0 Europa League defeat to his former club FC Twente in Holland.

Ruiz was ineligible for the encounter that saw Fulham struggle going forward, which has become a hallmark of their season.

Aside from a 6-0 defeat of QPR, goals have been hard to come by but summer signing Ruiz is confident he can help sway things after a stop-start beginning to life in west London.

"I was not frustrated by my start at Fulham but of course I would like it to have been better," he said.

"It is a process I have to follow with Fulham in the Premier League and I am feeling very good.

"I feel strong and hopefully I will get more minutes.

"I think I can help provide goals. All the players will do our best and do better in the team.

"I think we have good quality up front. We have many good players that can score and create chances.

"We have to improve that because I know we can do much better.

"Personally, I will try to do my best as I know my team-mates will do too."

While not involved last night, Ruiz was a focal point of proceedings as he was honoured before the game kicked-off by the home side.

The Costa Rica international left Twente in the summer and was given a hero's welcome at De Grolsch Veste, where he did a lap of honour after receiving gifts from the club.

"It was really, really nice and very emotional to be on the pitch and say goodbye to the supporters," Ruiz said after the 15-minute fanfare.

"They invited me over a couple of weeks ago.

"I could not say goodbye to them before so it was nice to have the chance.

"I got a good reception and I am very thankful what they have done. For me it was remarkable.

"I have such good memories here and am thankful to them."

He added: "I think Fulham fans [now] know how special my stay in Twente was.

"I spent two years and won the championship, which had never happened here before.

"I won the cup and Super Cup twice so they recognised my job here and I am really thankful."

Ruiz hopes one day to receive such adulation in west London, but first wants to help Fulham get over last night's loss in the upcoming match with Liverpool.

"It was really nice to play against Arsenal [last weekend] and I am fit to play on Monday," he said.

"The team did well and I felt very good so I enjoyed it.

"Liverpool is a good team and it is a tough game, but we have to try and win against everyone at home.

"It was a shame to lose against Twente, but that is football.

"Fulham didn't play the best match and Twente, you could say, deserved to win the match more."

PA