Hodgson targets Etuhu after Fulham late show

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson today confirmed he is still chasing Sunderland midfielder Dickson Etuhu. That could spell bad news for Jimmy Bullard and Danny Murphy, whose late strikes gave Fulham a barely-deserved 3-2 Carling Cup victory against Leicester City.

Bullard, especially, owed a goal to those few Fulham fans who bothered to turn up at Craven Cottage last night, because he spent the best part of this second-round tie out of sorts.

Murphy, Fulham's new club captain, was not at his best either as he and Bullard failed to find the spark that ignited such fireworks against Arsenal on Saturday. By the time Fulham play their next Premier League match at home to Bolton a fortnight on Saturday, the combative Etuhu could be challenging for one of their positions.

Hodgson, who has made no secret of his desire to strengthen his midfield with a defensive-minded player, had hoped to bring in Etuhu as part of an exchange deal involving David Healy.

In the end, Healy joined Sunderland in a straight cash deal understood to be worth £1.5million. But Etuhu, the 26-year-old Nigerian international, may still become a Fulham player before the transfer window closes on Monday.

"There is still some chance that will happen," said Hodgson. "We're hopeful that the deal will go through."

It is unlikely, however, that Etuhu's imminent arrival will see Bullard depart to Bolton, who have been chasing Fulham's talisman for some time.