Smith Rowe (undisclosed) has fully recovered from his recent fitness issue, with his continued absence from Fulham's matchday squad now attributed to selection decisions rather than injury, according to coach Alvaro Arbeloa, per Jack Kelly of Fulhamish. "He had some issues two weeks ago. And since then it's not easy for anyone to be in the squad because every week five players are out of the squad. It's not easy for me to pick 11 players and then pick 20 players (subs). So he needs to continue working as he's doing and fight for a position in a match day. That's the problem when you have a really big squad like I have."
Analysis:Smith Rowe is no longer dealing with the physical issue that affected him earlier in October, with coach Arbeloa confirming that his recent omissions have been driven by competition for places rather than fitness concerns. The attacking midfielder has struggled to establish himself in Fulham's rotation this season, recording just 41 minutes across four Premier League appearances despite starting twice in the Carabao Cup. Coach Arbeloa emphasized that several fit players are being excluded from each matchday squad, leaving Smith Rowe needing to impress in training to regain his place. Josh King remains the preferred option in the No. 10 role, while Tom Cairney provides additional midfield competition. Although Smith Rowe is available for selection, his immediate playing time remains uncertain until he earns a more prominent role in the rotation.
