“Unbelievable! Brighton’s Ever-Present Star Could Miss Leicester Showdown After Painful Blow!”
Kaoru Mitoma Faces Potential First Premier League Absence as Brighton Prepare to Host Leicester
Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma is at risk of missing his first Premier League match of the season due to injury concerns ahead of their upcoming clash with Leicester.
Mitoma limped off during Brighton’s 2-1 loss to rivals Crystal Palace last weekend after a heavy challenge from Palace defender Maxence Lacroix. Despite the collision, the referee awarded the free-kick to Palace.
Having scored nine goals this season, Mitoma has been a consistent presence in Brighton’s lineup, featuring in every league game so far. However, that streak may come to an end.
He now faces the possibility of joining Brighton’s growing injury list, which already includes Jason Steele, James Milner, Igor Julio, Georginio Rutter, Adam Webster, Ferdi Kadioglu, and Tariq Lamptey.
“Kaoru is a doubt,” manager Fabian Hurzeler said in his pre-match press conference. “He’ll try to train today, but otherwise the squad remains the same.
“It’s an issue with his heel—just a knock—so it comes down to how much pain he feels. If he can manage it, he could still play.”
Brighton are also without defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who is suspended for the match.
“We have some options,” Hurzeler added. “Eiran Cashin is certainly one. Mats Wieffer has played there before, and Carlos Baleba is another possibility.
“We’ll assess them in training before deciding. I’m not confirming a formation change, but it’s something we might consider.”
