Antti Niemi has been released from hospital after doctors
cleared him of any serious spinal injuries.
The Fulham keeper landed awkwardly in the goalless draw with
Watford on New Year's Day and was rushed to hospital.
He was immediately taken for X-rays which ruled out any spinal
injury.
The Finland international is out of a neck brace, but will continue
to be closely monitored by Fulham's medical team.
He is extremely unlikely to figure in Saturday's FA Cup third-round
clash with Leicester, but may not be sidelined for as long as was
originally feared.
A statement on the club's official website said: "The club can now
announce that Antti Niemi, having been reviewed at the ground by a
spinal surgeon, was taken to hospital where he was reviewed by the
doctors there and was cleared of any spinal cord or spinal column
injury.
"Therefore, the injury sustained is believed to be related to the
soft tissue (the ligaments and muscles).
"Antti has been released from hospital and is currently not in a
neck brace. But he is being reviewed by the Fulham medical team
constantly and will undergo further investigations over the next
few days, after which a full prognosis will be issued."