Alvaro Arbeloa confirms Fulham team news for Chelsea derby | OneFootball

Alvaro Arbeloa offered positive team news before Monday’s home derby with Chelsea, his first match as Fulham head coach.

Hounslow Herald reports the former Real Madrid coach replaced Marco Silva, who left in the summer after five years.

Joachim Andersen is unavailable for the opener, serving the final game of a ban for a two-footed lunge against Bournemouth on 9 May. Captain Tom Cairney also misses out after minor knee surgery this month. Arbeloa said Cairney is the only player unavailable, maybe back after the first international break, and the rest are fit for Monday.

With Andersen out, Fulham lack a right-sided centre-back beyond Canada international Luc de Fougerolles, who is yet to make his Premier League debut. Arbeloa used Calvin Bassey on the right with Jorge Cuenca in a 2-1 friendly win over Suttgart, hinting at his pairing.

Real Madrid duo Gonzalo Garcia, 22, and Cesar Palacios, 21, cost a combined £43m, featured in pre-season and are expected to face Chelsea. Fulham also signed Shea Charles, 22, from Southampton for £30m. He previously managed the pair at Castilla during a three-year spell. Arbeloa said the trio are talented and ambitious, thinks they fit his style, and he thinks they will do very well this season, calling them proper Premier League players.

Fulham’s top scorers Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez left after contract expiry. Sasa Lukic and Issa Diop joined Ipswich Town for around £9m each. Arbeloa expects activity before 1 September and thinks the squad can be stronger.

Source: Hounslow Herald

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