DICKSON Etuhu admits he's resigned to being dropped from Fulham's starting XI once Steve Sidwell returns to fitness.

The Nigerian midfielder has only made a handful of Premier League starts for the Whites this season, and told the Gazette last month that he will assess his future in January if he continues to warm the bench.

However, Etuhu has played the last three games as Sidwell is currently recovering from a hernia operation.

But the 29-year-old insists he expects to be stuck on the sidelines again once the midfielder returns to action.

He said: “It's nice to be playing again. It feels great to wake up in the morning knowing that I'm going to be involved.

“I feel I've done well. I was pleased with the way I played against Sunderland and in the Arsenal game as well.

“But there's no battle on. The manager picks the team and I expect Stevie [Sidwell] to come straight back in.

“I have gone most of the season not playing. It's nothing personal against Siddy - he's a great player and a good friend of mine.

“But at the end of the day I've not got been given a chance. I've only got that because he's been injured.

“I've been here four years and played under every manager. It's a strange season for me and come January we'll look at that.”

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