Pembridge to deputise for Diop

The Fulham midfielder Pape Bouba Diop will miss tonight's Premiership home match with Newcastle through suspension.

The Senegal international was sent off for accumulating two yellow cards in the 2-0 victory over Everton last Saturday and begins a two-match ban today.

Mark Pembridge will deputise for Diop but otherwise Chris Coleman, the Fulham manager, is likely to name an unchanged line-up. The striker Collins John is likely to be preferred to Andy Cole once again.

Mark Crossley hopes to get a loan move away from Fulham next season in order to find a new club. The 35-year-old goalkeeper, who has made 10 appearances in two seasons for Coleman's side, has one year remaining on his contract at Craven Cottage.

The imposing Welshman has been kept on the sidelines by the outstanding form of Dutchman Edwin van der Sar and the former Nottingham Forest man accepts he may have to drop to the Championship to secure regular action.

"I've got a year left at Fulham but I'll be looking to move out on loan next season because there's nothing like playing," Crossley said. "It's all right sitting on the bench every week, picking up the money, but it's better to be playing so I'll be looking for a loan period."

Crossley was on the bench for the 2-0 win over Everton at the weekend, a victory which guaranteed Fulham's Premiership safety.

And the goalkeeper believes Coleman's close-season transfer business may be determined by who leaves Craven Cottage this summer.

"I don't think Chris has got a lot of money to spend but it depends who he gets rid of," Crossley continued. "He's done a great job. In his first season we finished ninth, which is a great achievement for a club like Fulham. It's not been as good this year but we've not done too badly."