Brighton host Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday and are set to have Brajan Gruda, Solly March and James Milner available after injury, but Joao Pedro has been labelled a ‘long-term’ absentee.
March has been out for a year with a serious knee injury but could return to action against Spurs while summer signing Gruda could make his debut for the club following a calf problem.
Milner has been suffering with a hamstring complaint, but the veteran is back and available again.
However, Joao Pedro’s ankle injury has put him among the ‘long-term injuries’ alongside Matt O’Riley and Jan Paul van Hecke.
‘Let’s start with positive things,’ said Fabian Hurzeler at a press conference on Friday morning. ‘Brajan Gruda and Solly March, they trained really good this week, they might be an option for the weekend.
‘And the others, the long-term injuries with Matt O’ Riley, Joao Pedro and JP.
‘James Milner he’s an option for this weekend. Positive and negative news but in general we see more positives that the players come back.’
Simon Adingra’s status was not mentioned, but he is a doubt for the weekend after missing the last outing against Chelsea.
Pedro is a significant loss for Brighton after a bright start to the season from the Brazilian forward and it is unclear how long he will be out for.
He returned to the team against Nottingham Forest last month after a previous injury but suffered an ankle problem after a heavy challenge from Morgan Gibbs-White.
‘It was a hard tackle and Joao had some problems after the game, he still has some problems,’ Hurzeler said last week.
‘We have to go week for week with him. But I don’t think he will be an option for the weekend. I’m not sure how long he will be out. I think Joao is a good healer. I’m convinced he will be back soon. But of course also with this player we can’t take any risks.’
Brighton suffered their first league defeat under Hurzeler last time out, losing 4-2 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Seagulls have picked up nine points from their first six league games of the season and face a tricky run of fixtures, with Spurs following Chelsea and a trip to Newcastle to come after the international break.
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