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Brighton & Hove Albion’s head coach, Fabian Hurzeler, faces a challenging task ahead of their first home match of the 2024-25 Premier League season, as the team prepares to take on Manchester United this Saturday.
The Seagulls, who started their campaign with an impressive 3-0 victory over Everton last weekend, are in high spirits.
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However, Hurzeler remains cautious about the upcoming fixture, particularly due to injury concerns that could impact his squad’s performance.
Manchester United, on the other hand, began their season with a narrow 1-0 win against Fulham.
Despite the positive start for both teams, Hurzeler is realistic about the challenge that lies ahead.
“It would be a little too much if I say we’re the favourites against Manchester United,” Hurzeler stated. “I want us to bring our style of play and our potential on the pitch.”
Hurzeler emphasized the quality of Manchester United’s squad, particularly pointing out the individual brilliance of players like Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, and Alejandro Garnacho.
Adding to Hurzeler’s concerns, Brighton could be without up to seven key players for the match against United.
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This could prove to be a significant advantage for the visitors, who also have injury concerns but might find their task a bit easier given Brighton’s absentees.
Here are the players Brighton will miss for Saturday’s clash:
1. Igor Julio – The Brazilian defender, who didn’t participate in pre-season, was absent from the matchday squad against Everton due to an unspecified injury.
2. Solly March – The winger has returned to training as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury but is unlikely to be match-fit for another month.
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3. Bart Verbruggen – Brighton’s first-choice goalkeeper from the Netherlands is sidelined with an unspecified injury and is expected to return after the international break.
4. Julio Enciso – The Paraguayan playmaker is recovering from a knee injury sustained during the summer Olympics.
5. Evan Ferguson – The striker, who is recovering from a foot injury, has resumed training. However, his availability for the match against Manchester United remains doubtful.
6. Tariq Lamptey – The defender featured in Brighton’s first pre-season match in Japan but has been out since due to an unspecified injury. Although back in training, his inclusion in the squad remains uncertain.
7. Pervis Estupinan – The Ecuadorian left-back, recovering from ankle surgery, has returned to training. However, his fitness level may limit him to a place on the bench.
These absentees could significantly impact Brighton’s performance, as many of them are regular starters.
Manchester United, too, have their injury woes, with Rasmus Hojlund, Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, and Tyrell Malacia all ruled out of the upcoming fixture.
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