Last season difficult with injury and miscarriage - Muniz

Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz has spoken of the struggles he endured last season, revealing his wife suffered a miscarriage.

Muniz scored the equaliser for the Cottagers in a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United on Saturday for his first league goal since their opening top-flight match of last season.

"Last season was really difficult for me because, now I can say it, but I had the surgery," said the 25-year-old Brazilian, who had an operation on a hamstring injury, external in November and was out until early February.

"My wife was pregnant last season and, unfortunately, we lost the baby, but God is good all the time and now she's pregnant again.

"The goal was for my baby, and I hope this season will be different than last season."

Muniz also scored in wins over AFC Wimbledon and West Ham in the Carabao Cup this season.

Overall, he has 19 goals and three assists in 86 Premier League appearances for the London club since joining from Flamengo in 2021.

"I train hard every week to get opportunities to play and I want to play more," said Muniz, whose eight Premier League appearances under manager Alvaro Arbeloa this season have all come off the bench.

"I cannot control the gaffer, but I showed the gaffer I want to play more. I have to keep training hard, for him to say, 'OK, now is your time', and then I'm ready."