Ex-Madrid midfielder could now remain with the Cottagers this season.
Fulham may offer experienced midfield player Mahamadou Diarra a new contract at Craven Cottage after the Mali international made his comeback from a long-term knee injury on Monday, according to reports in the Daily Mirrror.
The holding midfield player suffered the knee problem nine months ago and with Diarra’s contract with the west London club running out in June, it had been thought that the 32-year-old had now played his final match for the Cottagers.
However, Diarra turned out for the Fulham development squad in their 2-1 win over Reading at Hogwood Park on Monday afternoon and with the player successfully coming through the Under-21’s victory, it is understood that head coach Martin Jol may now consider keeping the defensive midfield player at Craven Cottage this season.
The Dutchman still has one more place left to fill in his 25-man Premier League squad for the new campaign, and he must be giving serious consideration to giving it to Diarra after the player impressed greatly in his first 18 months with the Cottagers.
Diarra was signed by Jol from French outfit AS Monaco on a short-term contract in February 2012 and in the intervening period, the Malian has featured in 19 Premier League matches for the club in total, scoring one goal in the process.