Fulham's Arbeloa Confirms Tete's Absence Against Manchester United
Alvaro Arbeloa has confirmed Kenny Tete will miss Fulham’s Premier League meeting with Manchester United on Sunday, with the Dutch defender still sidelined by concussion.
Fulham step back into league business on the back of a breathless 3-2 EFL Cup win over West Ham United in midweek, a result that has given Arbeloa his first real surge of momentum since taking charge. Now comes the hard part: turning that cup drama into a first Premier League victory.
Arbeloa counts the cost before United visit
The Fulham manager will be without Tete, who continues to follow concussion protocols after taking a blow to the head in the recent Anfield clash.
“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.
On Tete’s situation, he added: “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.”
The update underlines a mixed picture for Fulham. Tom Cairney remains on the comeback trail, Sessegnon is touch-and-go after missing the last two competitive games, and Tete is out of contention altogether.
Right-back picture clear despite Tete blow
For years, Tete has been the automatic pick at right-back, a mainstay whenever fit. Under Arbeloa, that status has already been tested.
The 28-year-old came close to leaving in the final days of the summer window, with Everton pushing to bring him in. The deal collapsed when Fulham failed to land a replacement, keeping Tete in west London but not as an undisputed starter.
His absence this weekend strips Arbeloa of a natural right-back option on the bench, yet it should not disrupt the starting blueprint. Timothy Castagne is set to keep his place on the right of the back four, a role he has quietly made his own in the opening stretch of the season.
On the opposite flank, Antonee Robinson will continue at left-back regardless of Sessegnon’s fitness. Even if the former Tottenham man is passed fit, his route back into the side is likely to come higher up the pitch or from the bench.
Fulham arrive at Sunday with a cup comeback in their legs, a reshuffled defence, and a manager still chasing that first league win. Against Manchester United, there will be no hiding place for Arbeloa’s evolving back line.
