Fulham defender Joe Bryan close to return in boost for new manager Claudio Ranieri

New Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri has been handed a boost with left-back Joe Bryan closing in on a return to action after seven weeks out with a hamstring injury.

Bryan, who has made just four Premier League starts since his move from Bristol City, is back in training and played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly last week.

Saturday’s crunch home game against Southampton might come too soon for the £6million summer signing but his return to fitness is a lift for Ranieri as he looks to tighten up Fulham’s defence and turn things around at Craven Cottage.

The left-back position was a problem for Slavisa Jokanovic, who was forced to play either Maxime Le Marchand and Ryan Sessegnon there before he was sacked last week after six straight defeats.

One of the main priorities for Ranieri will be to find a settled back four and having Bryan fit could help some of their defensive problems.

Jokanovic named 12 different backlines in 12 matches and Fulham conceded 31 goals in slumping to the foot of the Premier League with just five points on the board.