'She has the ability' - Fulham boss Marco Silva backs first female Premier League ref Rebecca Welch

Welch will become the first woman to take charge of a top-flight match when Fulham face Burnley at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The 40-year-old previously became the first female fourth official in the top flight when Fulham hosted Manchester United in November.

Silva said: “It is important, of course. She was the first (female) fourth official in the Premier League in our game at the Cottage as well and we are going to welcome her here again.

“It should not even be a question, it is a matter of quality and the ability to referee a football match and for sure she has or she’s not going to be at this level.

“For us it will be a normal situation. Of course it will be the first time so everyone has to talk about it, but when the game starts it is going to be another Premier League game, with people with good ability to be a manager, a player or to be a referee.

“For us she is going to be the ref in the game. For us it has to be something normal. I know it’s not normal because it’s the first time but for us it’s completely the same.

“We will not even talk about it before the match because for us she is the ref like she was the fourth official some weeks ago in our game against Manchester United and for us it was a normal situation.

“Tomorrow is going to be the same. We have to always respect all the officials and she’s going to be welcomed. She got this chance because she deserves it for sure, and she has the ability to be at the level she is going to be tomorrow.”