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Fulham will be without Kenny Tete for the foreseeable future, after the defender picked up a nasty injury in last week’s draw at Anfield.
As the Dutchman was defending a Liverpool attack, Joe Gomez ran into him, which caused visible swelling and bruising to Tete's leg, and he limped off to be replaced by Timothy Castagne.
And Marco Silva revealed the gutting news in Friday’s press conference that it will be months, not weeks, before we see Tete in action again.
“Some not good news about Kenny Tete,” Silva confirmed. “Last game, the impact on his shin in that moment was clear for everyone that was watching the game on TV, and that big knock and tackle had an impact in his knee, and he's going to be out for a long period.
“Doesn't need surgery or something like that, but he is going to be out of the sessions at least 8-10 weeks. And, of course, it will take longer time for him to be ready after that, to be able to help us, like he was really doing.”
After struggling for regular game time last season, Tete had been in wonderful form this term, perhaps best emphasised by the fact that a player of Castagne’s talents has predominantly started games on the bench.
“Yes, it's a big blow, no doubt about it,” Silva admitted. “When Kenny Tete has in his place a player like Timothy Castagne, and is able to start almost all the games this season so far, shows how he's performing, how he's training every single day as well, because Timothy Castagne was impressive last season.
“He came to our football club, and he took completely the position, and first time that he got the position, he didn't give any chance for Kenny Tete last season.
“And this season was slightly the opposite, because Timothy Castagne came a little bit late, and Kenny had a very good pre-season, and he's performing so well.
“Not at all because Timothy is not at this level – Timothy is a really good right-back for us, and last season he showed that, he’s been showing in his career. But yes, Kenny is doing so well, and it's a big blow for us.
“It's going to be a time for Timothy to come and to show his quality again. He’s more than ready for it, and he has all the trust from ourselves. And, more than that, he has the quality to do it in a very good way.
“And probably it’s one of the positions that is just a matter of who is going to start, because they are different football players, but they are two very good right-backs, and we are really comfortable with that situation.
“But, of course, I would prefer to have both ready than just one.”
In more positive news, Joachim Andersen is close to a return, while Calvin Bassey and Tom Cairney have served their suspensions, with the Club Captain’s availability all the more timely after Andreas Pereira’s fifth booking of the season at Anfield.
“The other situations, they are more or less the same – the situation of Harrison Reed, of Reiss Nelson, as you know,” Silva said.
“Joachim is back in the training sessions, training with the team again, and is just a matter of fitness, really, to be able to play again.
“But Kenny, Harrison Reed, Reiss Nelson, they are going to be out, as is Andreas Pereira, as you know, with his fifth yellow card.”
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Wilson; Jimenez
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Southampton's setup this weekend should not differ too much from the possible new manager's philosophy, as he was been a proponent of using three centre-backs during his time in Serie A.
However, Jack Stephens will not be among the defenders in contention - he is serving the last of a four-game ban - while Will Smallbone (thigh), Gavin Bazunu (Achilles) and Ross Stewart (calf) are definitely unavailable too.
In brighter news, Aaron Ramsdale could make his comeback from a finger injury on Sunday, where he will no doubt replace Alex McCarthy if fit enough, and Kyle Walker-Peters is likely to return after missing the Liverpool loss with a knock.
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood; Sugawara, Downes, Fernandes, Walker-Peters; Dibling, Armstrong; Archer
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