Fulham are just days away from the start of their return to the Championship, having been relegated from the Premier League last term.

Once again, they were unable to extend their stay in the top flight beyond just the one season but they've proven in the past that they know how to bounce right back up.

Scott Parker's exit and the arrival of Marco Silva signals the start of a new era at Craven Cottage and one that gets underway properly on Sunday.

The game against Middlesbrough in west London will be Silva's first competitive game since taking charge and promises to be an exciting one – not least because it will be in front of a big crowd.

But after weeks of preparations and pre-season, who are the 11 players that we're likely to see.

We've taken a look at what is, plenty of factors considered, Silva's best XI on paper...

Paulo Gazzaniga may have started the most recent pre-season game but assuming he's recovered from the knock that kept him out of that match, Marek Rodak gets the nod between the sticks.

The 24-year-old was excellent in Fulham's last season in the Championship and a key factor in their promotion.

Having lost his place to Alphonse Areola last year, Rodak will no doubt be determined to prove his quality again this season and for that reason, he should be Silva's first choice.

There's a strong argument to be made that Fulham have the best full-backs of any Championship club this season.

Silva has plenty of options at right-back, with both Cyrus Christie and Steven Sessegnon returning from last season's loan, but Kenny Tete looks the clear first choice.

He cemented his place in the side in the latter part of 2020/21 and is surely Silva's strongest option on the right side of defence.

The drop down to the Championship should help him and may mean that we see more attacking output from him this term.

It would be a surprise to see anyone starting ahead of him.

Tosin Adarabioyo has been linked with a move away from Fulham this summer but while his £10 million release clause remains untriggered, he's surely among the club's finest centre-backs at the moment.

The 23-year-old didn't look particularly out of place in the Premier League last season and was excellent while on loan in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers a few years ago.

If they can keep hold of him, you'd expect Adarabioyo to be a mainstay in the Fulham side and perhaps among the best centre-backs in the division.

With Michael Hector and Terence Kongolo missing, Tim Ream looks like a smart selection at centre-back.

Likewise with Tom Cairney injured Ream's inclusions means there is a bona fide leader on the pitch.

The 33-year-old may have fallen out of favour last season but his Championship experience will likely be invaluable, having twice played a key role in Fulham's promotions.

Hector and Kongolo's return could well see him lose his place, as could the progression of Alfie Mawson who has been brought back in from the cold this summer but for the time being the American looks likely to get the nod.

The last two pre-season games have indicated that Antonee Robinson appears to be Silva's first choice at left-back at the moment, with the American having started both.

In Joe Bryan, Fulham have a left-back that could walk into the many starting XIs in the Championship but Robinson just about gets the nod.

His pure athleticism is remarkable and with the Craven Cottage outfit likely to be in the ascendancy, we can expect to see the 23-year-old getting forward a lot more often this term.

He's thrived in this second tier in the past and it would be no surprise to see him do the again in the 2021/22 campaign.

Harrison Reed pulled the strings for Fulham from central midfield last season and will surely be one of the first names on Silva's teamsheet assuming he's recovered the knock that kept him out of the most recent pre-season game.

The west London club are not short of quality players in the middle of the park either, with the likes of Jean Micheal Seri and Tyrese Francois also pushing for a place in pre-season.

But Reed, who has drawn links to Leeds United this summer, was so impressive for Fulham in the Premier League and will surely be a mainstay this term.

Last time Fulham were relegated to the Championship, André-Franck Zambo Anguissa was sent out on loan to Villareal.

This time around it seems as though Silva is going to have the benefit of having the Cameroon international in his squad – and what an advantage that will be.

The midfield duo of Reed and Zambo Anguissa has to be up there with the best in the Championship, having built a strong relationship in the Premier League last season.

The step down to the English second tier could well see him dominate opposition sides, which will obviously thrill the Craven Cottage faithful.

Fulham's big-money signing could prove to be vital to their hopes of securing promotion back to the Premier League.

Harry Wilson's record in the division is outstanding, scoring 29 goals and adding 19 assists in 90 appearances, and he caused so many issues for opposition defenders while on loan at Cardiff City last term.

Silva certainly has some strong options on the flanks but the former Liverpool man has to be first choice on the right, even with Anthony Knockaert back from his loan at Nottingham Forest.

The Wales international will no doubt be determined to help his new club bounce back up to the top flight this term.

With questions over the fitness of captain Tom Cairney and Bobby Reid returning from international duty with Jamaica in the Gold Cup, 18-year-old Fabio Carvalho could well be Silva's strongest option in attacking midfield.

The teenager has come to the fore during Fulham's pre-season and it's going to be a test of just how much the new manager rates him to see if he gets the nod against Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Cairney and Reid are likely to be important players for the west London club this season when they're available but, right now, Carvalho looks to be Silva's best option.

While both Wilson and Knockaert are capable of playing on the left-flank, neither are as natural a player in that position as Neeskans Kebano.

Kebano fell out of favour following the promotion to the Premier League last season and spent the second half of 2020/21 out on loan but appears to have won the trust of Silva and has started the last two pre-season games.

We've seen just how useful an option he can be on the left in Fulham's Championship seasons in the past but he'll be keen to secure a regular place for the upcoming campaign and produce consistently.

The arrival of Flamengo striker Rodrigo Muniz could well change things but Aleksandar Mitrovic looks set to play a vital part of Fulham's promotion push in 2021/22.

He's yet to really crack the Premier League but there's no denying his quality at this level as the Serbian has dominated the Championship in the past.

Last time the west London club played in the second tier, Mitrovic scored 26 times and Silva will be hoping to see that sort of production this term.

He's been a big part of the new manager's pre-season plans and it would be a surprise not to see that continue as the campaign wears on.