Fulham outcast Joachim Andersen can be Alvaro Arbeola's lifeline

Joachim Andersen has dropped out of Alvaro Arbeloa's first-team plans at Fulham.

The Danish defender has long been a stalwart in the Premier League, proving himself throughout the years.

However, with any new manager, even the most established of senior players can find themselves falling down the pecking order.

That is what has happened with Andersen at Craven Cottage, with him starting the first two games of the Premier League season, and being handed no more following that.

Now, with Fulham bottom of the Premier League, manager Arbeloa's job is certainly on the line.

And Andersen can be the solution to turn things around.

Why Joachim Andersen can help save Alvaro Arbeloa's job

After losing his opening three fixtures, Arbeloa clearly felt changes were needed at Fulham.

However, his sights may have been misplaced, with Andersen ending up being the brunt of his decision.

The Danish defender started two of those games, with four goals being conceded.

In his place, Arbeloa turned to David Affengruber, but the Austrian has his clear weaknesses.

Since coming into the fold, Affengruber has yet to win a single aerial duel in three games.

He has been involved in four duels, ending up with a zero per cent success rate.

In comparison, Andersen has a success rate of 66.7 per cent this season in the Premier League.

Furthermore, to make the Dane's case, his teammate loses the ball more per game, with him coming in with 11 possession losses compared to 8.3.

Meanwhile, in three appearances, Andersen has not been dribbled past this season.

The Dane is an experienced defender, and when times get tough, managers need to rely on those figures; if not, the Spaniard will quickly be seeking his next coaching role.

What is the latest on Arbeloa at Fulham?

Football Insider previously reported that Fulham were backing Arbeloa over the international break, and that has been the case.

However, as more losses pile up and the Cottagers sink deeper into the relegation zone, it is hard to see that stance remaining the same.

The Spaniard has not been the Marco Silva replacement that fans expected, and performances plus results have been far off the mark this campaign.

Perhaps recalling Andersen, who has been ostracised, can be his last lifeline at Craven Cottage to save his job.

Something certainly needs to change, and it must do so quickly.