Alvaro Arbeloa Faces Manchester United Without Kenny Tete

Alvaro Arbeloa will be without Kenny Tete for Fulham’s Premier League meeting with Manchester United on Sunday, as the Dutch defender continues to follow concussion protocols.

Fulham step back into league action on the back of a wild 3-2 EFL Cup win over West Ham United in midweek, a result that has given Arbeloa a first real surge of momentum since taking charge. Now comes the harder part: turning that into his first Premier League victory, against a wounded but dangerous United side at Craven Cottage.

The Spaniard confirmed that Tete will not feature, while Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon remain doubts.

“Tom is still recovering. Tete won’t be available. We need to see if Sess (Ryan Sessegnon) is available for Sunday,” Arbeloa said, speaking to Fulhamish.

He then clarified the nature of Tete’s issue: “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.”

Tete out, right-back picture unchanged

Tete has long been regarded as Fulham’s first-choice right-back, but that status has already been tested in the early weeks of Arbeloa’s reign.

The 28-year-old came close to leaving in the final days of the summer window, with Everton pushing to bring him to Goodison Park. The move collapsed when Fulham were unable to land a replacement, keeping Tete in west London but not necessarily at the top of the pecking order.

His absence this weekend strips Arbeloa of a natural right-back option on the bench, yet it is not expected to alter the starting back line. Timothy Castagne is set to keep his place on the right of the defence, rewarded for a steady run of performances and now trusted to lock down the flank against United’s pace.

On the opposite side, Antonee Robinson will continue at left-back, regardless of whether Sessegnon proves his fitness in time to make the squad. Even if the England international is passed fit, his role is likely to be from the bench as he eases back from the injury that has kept him out of Fulham’s last two competitive matches.

Arbeloa’s options are stretched, but his choices are clear. Against Manchester United, he goes in with the back four that has already begun to carry his stamp.