Pascal Gross
Photo: Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton are looking to the physio room for a much needed boost
by Conor Dunford
Brighton come back from the international break heading into a run of fixtures which could make or break their season. The next six league games for The Seagulls leading into the Christmas period come against teams they will be hoping to compete with for places in the final Premier League table.
Newcastle (a)
Wolves (h)
Everton (a)
Cardiff (a)
Leicester (h)
Huddersfield (a)
Going into these vital clashes, manager Chris Hughton will be hoping his medical team can help those who have recently needed treatment return to the fold and give the squad a much needed boost.
Goalkeeper Matt Ryan missed international duty with Australia for precautionary treatment on a knock recently picked up by the shot-stopper.
Davy Propper also pulled out of his international duties, with the Netherlands, to focus on a foot injury that has troubled the midfielder. His national side went on to defeat former World Champions Germany 3-0 in the UEFA Nations League, but Propper returned to Brighton to receive treatment. Propper has been a key man for Hughton this season, playing 90 minutes in all but one of their Premier League games so far.
Dale Stephens has not been in the squad for the last two league matches for Brighton. A hamstring injury has been causing the Bolton-born midfielder issues. It was anticipated he’d return for the win over West Ham, but failed to fully recover in time. Stephens is expected will be ready and available for the trip to Newcastle, and may pair up with Davy Propper in the centre of midfield.
Another injury concern, and arguably the most important for Hughton, is playmaker Pascal Gross, who has been out for several weeks with an ankle injury. Prior to the West Ham game, Hughton gave an update on the German midfielder, “What you want is somebody who is coming back fully fit with no prospect of them breaking down again.” Said the former Norwich City boss, “Our hopes are that he will be available for Newcastle. There has been no setback, it’s just taken longer than we initially thought.”
The return of the former Ingolstadt man will be a welcomed boost for Brighton, who are having to rely on fan favorite Anthony Knockaert to provide the side’s creativity in the final third.
The games come thick and fast between now and then end of the year, with the build up to the Christmas period a vital set of games for those chasing survival.
Brighton will be hoping for the physio room to be nearing on empty for the next few weeks, as they head into what is their most important period of the 18/19 season.
