Fulham debut for Frenchman

French defender Phillippe Christanval will make his full debut for Fulham in tomorrow’s Carling Cup first round home tie against Lincoln as manager Chris Coleman expects to change his entire starting line-up.

Injuries to Claus Jensen, Niclas Jensen and goalkeeper Tony Warner have convinced Coleman, already stretched by injuries, that he cannot afford to take any further risks ahead of next Monday’s Premiership visit to Tottenham.

Christanval, who trained with Arsenal during the summer after being released by Marseille, Australia defender Ahmad Elrich, 19-year-old Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo Batista, Irish Under-21 midfielder Michael Timlin and Heidar Helguson, the close-season signing from Watford, are all expected to make their first starts with Warner and senior strikers Brian McBride and Tomasz Radzinski on the bench as back-up.

Provisional squad: Batista, Christanval, Goma, Rehman, Elrich, Rosenior, Helguson, John, Timlin, Leacock, Green, Warner, McBride, Radzinski, Milson, James.