Brighton Team News Page 16 - Soccer

Joel Veltman - Doubt for Fulham trip Veltman (undisclosed) is hopeful for Saturday's trip to Fulham, according to manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Impact Veltman hasn't been completely healthy in a couple months and it doesn't sound like he'll be ready to start Saturday. He hasn't played more than 30 minutes in a match since early December and whatever this injury is, it won't help his return to the pitch and starting XI.

FEBRUARY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Tariq Lamptey - Hopeful Saturday Lamptey (hamstring) is hopeful to be available for Saturday's trip to Fulham, according to manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Impact Lamptey sat out Wednesday's FA Cup match but will hope to return Saturday despite his history with hamstring injuries. If he still feels any kind of problem it's unlikely he'll be risked. Given other absences in the squad, Brighton could line up in a few different ways, though it seems like another start for Pervis Estupinan is inevitable given other injuries in the squad, no matter the status of Lamptey.

FEBRUARY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Danny Welbeck - Plays off bench Wednesday Welbeck (undisclosed) played the entire second half in Wednesday's FA Cup loss.

Impact Welbeck underwent scans earlier in the week and whatever the issue, it's apparently not serious, as he went more than 45 minutes Wednesday. That likely means a return to the starting XI for Saturday's trip to Fulham given other injury absences in the squad. Welbeck has one goal in his last 11 starts and been taken off before the 70th minute in seven of those.

FEBRUARY 29 • ROTOWIRE

James Milner - Needs weeks before return Milner (thigh) needs a couple more weeks before he can return, according to manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Impact Milner has already been out a month and it looks like he'll be out about another month until the March international break. At this point in his career, injury recovery isn't quite as smooth and his time on the sideline is only made worse by numerous other teammates battling injuries.

FEBRUARY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Carlos Baleba - Appears off bench Baleba came off the bench for the final 30 minutes of Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Wolves in the FA Cup.

Impact Baleba went unused in the last two Premier League matches but got about 30 minutes of run during Wednesday's FA Cup clash. His role has dwindled of late after his last start came during a one-all draw to Crystal Palace in December. The defensive midfielder hasn't been impressive since making the switch to Brighton, but he should have plenty of time to continue developing moving forward, even if his short-term role remains minor.

FEBRUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Igor - Back in FA Cup action Igor played 80 minutes during Wednesday's FA Cup clash against Wolves.

Impact Igor has been in and out of the starting XI, and was back in the first team for Wednesday's FA Cup clash. When fit Igor has ended up in a large role due to injuries elsewhere in the first team, both at left-back and center-back. Valentin Barco is integrating into the first team and could be the long-term preference at left-back moving forward.

FEBRUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Jakub Moder - First start back Moder got the start and played 60 minutes during Wednesday's clash with Wolves.

Impact Moder came back from a two-year absence due to knee injury earlier in the year. The midfielder has started to see some bench appearances in the premier League, but he made a huge step forward and got back in a starting role, playing 60 minutes. While he will likely remain a depth option for the closing stages of the league season, the hour on the pitch represents a new high for Moder since his knee injury.

FEBRUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Tariq Lamptey - Out with hamstring Lamptey (hamstring) missed Wednesday's FA Cup clash with Wolves due to a hamstring injury, according to Andy Naylor of The Athletic.

Impact Lamptey has started four matches in a row and could still get back on the pitch for Saturday's trip to Fulham. The defender has gotten starts at both right and left-back, though injuries have caused him various issues throughout the season. Lamptey will be one to watch in training ahead of Saturday's trip.

FEBRUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Jan Paul Van Hecke - Earns starting role Van Hecke has found himself in a starting role in his second season in the Premier League, having started in 24 of the club's 31 matches this campaign.

Impact Van Hecke started his career in Brighton last season, not seeing much time after transferring from Blackburn, only having gained eight appearances. However, he is now a regular sight on the field, registering 28 interceptions, 38 tackles and 78 clearances in his 26 appearances this campaign. The defender should remain in this position for most of the club's matches moving forward and will hope to stay in this role for a couple more seasons after inking a contract through 2027 in December.

FEBRUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Japan winger Mitoma could miss rest of season for Brighton because of back injury

Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma is expected to miss the rest of the season for English club Brighton because of a back injury

FEBRUARY 27 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mitoma likely out for season due to back injury Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma will likely not play again this season due to a back injury. Mitoma, 26, missed Saturday’s 1-1 dr...

FEBRUARY 27 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Joel Veltman - Out for FA Cup Veltman is out for Wednesday's FA Cup clash with Wolves, according to manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Impact Veltman won't be an option in the FA Cup. This is a bit of a disappointment because Veltman has been a useful rotation option in Cup matches, and it's not sure what the issue is for Veltman either. The defender has appeared in two of the last three matches since coming back from a knee injury, so the worry will be that he aggravated the same issue once more.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Danny Welbeck - Uncertain for Cup Welbeck is a doubt for Wednesday's FA Cup clash with Wolves, according to manager Roberto De Zerbi. "Welbeck has a problem and we have to make a check."

Impact Welbeck is undergoing some scans to see if he can play during Wednesday's clash. With Evan Ferguson (undisclosed) already ruled out, it would be Welbeck leading the line. Welbeck could hold onto the starting role heading into Saturday's trip to Fulham as well, depending on Ferguson's fitness.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Evan Ferguson - Out Wednesday Ferguson (undisclosed) is out for Wednesday's clash with Wolves in the FA Cup, according to manager Roberto De Zerbi. "Ferguson tomorrow, he can't play,"

Impact Ferguson is dealing with an injury of some sort and won't be risked in FA Cup action. The forward instead will be looking for some sort of return for Saturday's trip to Fulham back in Premier League action. There's no guarantee he will be back then either, though with Danny Welbeck (undisclosed) in doubt, one of the two could be forced to lead the line if deemed fit.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Kaoru Mitoma - Possibly out for season Mitoma (back) may be done for the season, as manager Roberto De Zerbi announced, "It's the back injury which kept him out against Everton. It's an important problem. I think two or...

Impact Mitoma may have seen his last minutes of the season in the Feb. 18 match against Sheffield United, as he is set to be out for two to three months and possibly the rest of the season. This will be a tremendous loss for the club despite the player's slight drop-off in production from last season, as he serves as one of their best playmakers, notching three goals on 40 shots and five assists on 37 chances created in 25 appearances this campaign. His absence will force some change within the starting XI, so while he is out, expect his most likely replacement to be Simon Adingra, who has already served in his spot when Mitoma missed the team's last match.

FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Bart Verbruggen - Concedes one against Everton Verbruggen made one save and conceded one goal during Saturday's 1-1 draw against Everton.

Impact Verbruggen had another game with little action but this time he couldn't leave with the clean sheet as Jarrad Branthwaite found a way to beat him with a spectacular finish into the top corner to open the scoring for the opposition in the 73rd minute. That's now six saves, two goals allowed and one clean sheet over the last three starts for Verbruggen, who remains in a game-by-game fight for the starting spot at the net against Jason Steele.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Julio Enciso - Takes two shots in return Enciso (knee) had two shots (one on target) and created one chance after coming off the bench during Saturday's 1-1 draw against Everton.

Impact Enciso made his first appearance in six months after recovering from a serious injury, being brought in the 72nd minute to replace Facundo Buonanotte and getting involved in some dangerous plays despite clearly showing signs of rust. Competition for playing time in Brighton's midfield is always intense, but the wonderkid will probably find some room to slowly work his way into full match fitness until the end of the campaign.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Facundo Valentin Buonanotte - Creates five chances in draw Buonanotte created five chances and drew two fouls during Saturday's 1-1 draw against Everton.

Impact Buonanotte had another productive display here, this time creating more chances than he did in any match since joining Brighton last season. The playmaker is finally back at his top form after having a very slow start of campaign, with two goals over his last four starts and his playing time steadily increasing.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Pascal Gross - Logs assist on Saturday Gross delivered an assist, had one off-target shot, created six chances, sent in 14 crosses (five accurate) , made three tackles (all won) and was shown a yellow card during Saturd...

Impact Gross had another playmaking masterclass for Brighton, generating a lot of chances from both open play and set pieces, including the perfect cross that found Lewis Dunk's head for the dramatic equalizer deep into second half's stoppage time. This has been another great campaign for Gross but he's been special over the last four starts, with one goal, four assists, eight shots, 17 chances created and 42 crosses.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Lewis Dunk - Bags equalizer versus Brighton Dunk scored a goal off three shots (two on target), created two chances and made two clearances during Saturday's 1-1 draw against Everton.

Impact Dunk didn't have one of his best defensive performances here but more than made up for that on the attacking end, always finding a way to threaten on aerial plays and using his head to score a dramatic equalizer off a cross from the right deep into second half's stoppage time. That's now two goals and an assist over the last four starts for the captain so opponents should better watch him closely during upcoming matches.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Ref Watch: The difference between Harry Maguire challenge and Billy Gilmour red Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher takes a closer look at the difference between the decision for Harry Maguires booking and Bil...

FEBRUARY 26 • SKY.COM

Billy Gilmour - Sent off Saturday Gilmour was handed a straight red card in the 81st minute against Everton on Saturday and will face a three-match ban.

Impact Gilmour's absence will include an FA Cup matchup with Wolverhampton on Wednesday, so he'll be eligible to return versus Manchester City on March 17. He'll also be able to feature in the club's two Europa League clashes with Roma during that stretch. In his stead, Carlos Baleba could make his first start since Dec. 21 against Crystal Palace.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

The next £100m transfer battle? Arsenal join Chelsea in pursuit of prodigious Brighton hitman Evan Ferguson | Goal.com US Brighton striker Evan Ferguson is reportedly being monitored by Arsenal ahead of a possible summer transfer, with Chelsea showing interest a...

FEBRUARY 25 • GOAL.COM

Lewis Dunk's header puts Brighton level against Everton | Premier League

FEBRUARY 24 • YOUTUBE

Billy Gilmour sent off for dangerous tackle against Everton | Premier League

FEBRUARY 24 • YOUTUBE

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Japan winger Mitoma could miss rest of season for Brighton because of back injury