Latest Brighton injury news, expected return dates, suspensions

Brighton & Hove Albion enter the second half of the Premier League season looking to build on a mixed campaign thus far.

Sure, there have been some lows, such as the 6-1 defeat to Aston Villa, but they have been more than balanced out with some spectacular highs, including wins against Newcastle United and Manchester United. Roberto De Zerbi’s side still look like they could beat anyone in the league on their day.

With a place in Europe a real possibility once again, as well as going far in the Europa League after making the last 16, the Italian will need to keep his squad injury-free – something he is struggling to do as things stand.

With that in mind, Football FanCast is here to keep you updated on all the latest injury news coming out of the Amex ahead of their return to top-flight action against Wolves on Monday week.

Latest Brighton & Hove Albion injury news

Brighton & Hove Albion had a pretty lengthy injury list heading into the new year, with a number of long-term absentees.

The most recent additions to the treatment room are Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma, who have curiously both been called up to their nations’ respective Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup squads. Meanwhile, Joel Veltman was also sidelined just before Christmas.

De Zerbi had also ruled out Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati for a ‘long time’ as well as full-back Tariq Lamptey. The pair were both subbed off during the clash away at Nottingham Forest in late November.

Elsewhere, Solly March and Julio Enciso are both enduring extended spells on the sidelines.

Simon Adingra

Hamstring

Forward Simon Adingra suffered a hamstring problem just after Christmas, forcing him to spend time on the sidelines during the festive period. He has not featured for the Seagulls since the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on 21st December, but has still been called up to Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations squad despite being confirmed to be unavailable for the hosts’ curtain-raiser against Guinea-Bissau this weekend.

Therefore, while his recovery is ongoing, it is difficult to put a timeframe on his potential return to the team given there could be exploits on the international stage to come.

Kaoru Mitoma

Ankle

Kaoru Mitoma was ruled out of action by De Zerbi for around six weeks in late December after he suffered a severe ankle injury, though this was somewhat defied by Japan’s decision to call him up for the Asian Cup, which ends in less than a month’s time.

Whether or not Mitoma will be able to feature for the Samurai Blue, the date of his expected return to the Brighton fold is as yet unknown, particularly if his nation put his injury at risk of aggravation by rushing him back. Indeed, De Zerbi was perplexed by the 26-year-old’s inclusion in the squad.

Joel Veltman

Knee

Dutchman Joel Veltman has been nursing a knee injury since hobbling off in the defeat to Arsenal last month. While De Zerbi said his injury was “not so big”, he was expected to miss a couple of months, meaning a mid-February return seems most likely at present.

Ansu Fati

Thigh

Ansu Fati, who is on a season-long loan spell from Barcelona, has been on the sidelines since picking up a thigh injury in the 3-2 victory at Nottingham Forest in November.

De Zerbi wasn’t able to issue a return date when speaking about Fati’s injury nearer the time, though it does seem as though he will have spent around three months out by the time he is now expected back, taking him to late February at the earliest.

Tariq Lamptey

Thigh

Ghanaian full-back Tariq Lamptey was making just his second league start of the campaign against Nottingham Forest, but was forced off in the first half after sustaining a thigh injury.

De Zerbi would later confirm that he was expected to be out for a ‘long time’. The 23-year-old has been plagued by injuries over the last few seasons and is yet again facing a lengthy spell away from the action.

Initial reports suggested that, like Fati, he would spend around three months out, meaning he will be hopefully back by the start of March.

Solly March

Knee

Solly March was a late casualty in Brighton’s Premier League game against Manchester City, as he appeared to bend his knee the wrong way in the dying embers of the game.

The severity of the injury was immediately apparent, and the 29-year-old had to be taken off the pitch with a stretcher.

After the match, De Zerbi delivered the news fans were dreading: “Solly unfortunately is a very, very tough injury, very important injury. We will lose him for a long time.”

Only time will tell whether we see March play again this season.

Julio Enciso

Knee

Julio Enciso suffered “trauma to his left knee” during a Brighton training session in late August and has been out of action since.

In the immediate aftermath of the injury, De Zerbi delivered the news fans were dreading, confirming that the talented Paraguayan would be out for “a longer period.”

The Italian manager was full of encouragement for his player just a few days later, however, saying: “I made a video call with my staff, and he was good.

“Sad for the injury because Julio lives for football, and he loves football 24 hours per day. But I explained to him it is a normal situation in football.”

Latest Brighton & Hove Albion suspension news

As perhaps expected at the halfway stage of the campaign, Brighton have no players in immediate danger of a suspension, with the bookings threshold being extended.

Lewis Dunk is up for selection against Wolves next Monday after missing the draw with West Ham United due to suspension, while everyone else is on a clean slate.

However, while five more yellow cards will bring about a ban, reaching a season total of ten before matchweek 32 will result in a two-match ban. Dunk is the player closest to this, having picked up five yellows so far this term. Billy Gilmour, Kaoru Mitoma and Facundo Buonanotte are all on four.