Fulham's Arbeloa Faces Challenge Without Tete Against Manchester United
Alvaro Arbeloa will be without Kenny Tete when Fulham welcome Manchester United to Craven Cottage on Sunday, with the Dutch defender sidelined by concussion.
Fulham step back into Premier League business on the back of a wild 3-2 EFL Cup win over West Ham United in midweek, a result that has given Arbeloa a timely jolt of momentum as he chases his first league victory in charge. The performance in the cup has raised expectations. The team sheet, though, will be missing a familiar name.
Tete ruled out, Sessegnon a doubt
Speaking ahead of the game, Arbeloa confirmed that Tete will not feature and that Tom Cairney also remains on the comeback trail, while Ryan Sessegnon faces a race against time to be involved.
“Tom is still recovering. Tete won’t be available. We need to see if Sess (Ryan Sessegnon) is available for Sunday,” he told Fulhamish.
Tete’s issue stems from a head knock sustained in the recent trip to Anfield.
“It’s a concussion after the ball hit him in the Anfield game, so he’s still not available. I think he’ll be ready for an international break. Unfortunately, he’s not ready for a Sunday,” Arbeloa added.
The timeline removes any chance of a late twist. Fulham will have to plan for United without their long-standing first-choice right-back.
Selection picture at full-back
Tete has been a mainstay on the right of Fulham’s defence in recent seasons, but his status has shifted under Arbeloa. Even before the concussion, he had not nailed down the starting spot in the early weeks of the new regime.
The summer nearly took him elsewhere. Everton pushed to sign the defender late in the window, only for the move to collapse when Fulham failed to secure a replacement. He stayed. His role, though, has subtly changed.
On Sunday, his absence strips Arbeloa of an obvious right-back option on the bench, yet it is not expected to alter the starting XI. Timothy Castagne is set to keep his place on the right side of the back four, a role he has grown into under the new manager.
On the opposite flank, Antonee Robinson will continue at left-back, regardless of Sessegnon’s fitness. Even if the winger-turned-full-back is passed fit, he is likely to be eased back rather than thrown straight into the firing line.
Arbeloa’s defensive plan is clear. The question now is whether this patched-up, settled back line can hold firm long enough for Fulham to finally turn that cup spark into Premier League lift-off.
