Fulham centre backs Alfie Mawson and Tim Ream have been partners all season, but they may have to battle it out with each other for a starting spot now.

Scott Parker's side welcomed Aston Villa at the weekend.

The pair last met in the 2018 Championship play-off final but met in the FA Cup Third Round on Saturday, with Fulham progressing into the Fourth Round after a 2-1 win at the Cottage.

Two second-half goals from Anthony Knockaert and Harry Arter sees Parker's side into the next round, and it was a game with plenty of positives for Fulham fans.

17-year-old Jay Stansfield made his senior debut for the club and impressed in doing so, Kevin McDonald had his return to action and Michael Hector made his long-awaited debut after finalising his move from Chelsea last week.

The Jamaican international has been training with Fulham throughout the first-half of the season but his move from Chelsea wasn't due to go through until this month's transfer window. But he's finally a Fulham player and having started the game on Saturday, there's plenty that think he'll prove to be a shrewd signing for the club.

He started alongside Mawson in a somewhat makeshift back-four with Cyrus Christie and Dennis Odoi on the flanks, with Joe Bryan playing in a more attacking role.

But having not played a game of first-team football since last season, and coming in against Premier League opposition, Hector more than held his own.

Fans were quick to call him out for the goal though when Anwar El-Ghazi got on the wrong side of him and got Villa on level terms.

It was quickly forgiven though, and there were plenty more positives than negatives to take from his game. His overall presence was his most impressing attribute - a big and powerful centre-back who won almost everything in the air on the day, and who commanded the Fulham defence better than Mawson and Ream have done all season.

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With a few more games under his belt, Hector will become a real asset to Fulham, but it means Parker dropping one of Ream or Mawson.

It's unlikely that he'll play a back-five to cater for them all, but which one should pair Hector? It's clear that he's going to be a regular in the first-team in the second-half of the season, and Parker needs to pair him up sooner rather than later.

Mawson was given the nod on Saturday but he's come under some stern criticism from fans this season, whilst Ream has been no stranger to a slating either.

It's a tricky decision for Parker to make and at a tender time in the season. Fulham travel to Hull this weekend, and what the centre-paring will be is anyone's guess.