Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has issued a stark warning over Fulham's appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa as manager, suggesting the Cottagers could find themselves in a Premier League relegation battle next season.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor rated Arbeloa just one out of five as a managerial appointment — a damning verdict driven largely by the Spaniard's lack of top-level senior management experience.

The concern at Craven Cottage is compounded by the exit of Marco Silva, who left for Benfica having guided Fulham to within a single point of European qualification last term. Agbonlahor was full of praise for Silva's work but noted that even his drive and intensity on the touchline could not carry the club into the top eight.