Fabian Hürzeler has offered a pragmatic injury update for Brighton as the club prepares to start competitive action in quick succession — a first-leg trip to Tromsø in the UEFA Conference League play-off on Thursday, followed by a Premier League home game against Aston Villa on Sunday 23 August.
Key absentees for Norway trip
After Brighton’s 1-0 pre-season win over Bologna, Hürzeler confirmed the squad will be missing a number of players. The manager singled out Carlos Baleba (ankle), Yankuba Minteh (leg) and Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring) as injuries that will keep them out of immediate contention.
- Carlos Baleba — ankle injury, unavailable for the Tromsø fixture.
- Yankuba Minteh — leg injury, will miss an extended period.
- Kaoru Mitoma — hamstring issue, close to a return but not yet fit.
Defender Pascal Struijk, the club’s summer signing from Leeds reported to have cost around £18m, is also likely to miss the trip to Norway. Hürzeler said Struijk has been managing an unspecified injury and missed tune-up matches against Roma and Bologna, though the manager added he is training and could be available for the next game.
“Mitoma is getting closer,” Hürzeler said. “With Minteh, he will even miss unfortunately for a longer period. Don't ask me for how long, but it will be definitely for several weeks.”
Pre-season form and selection clarity
Brighton finished pre-season unbeaten, having taken in friendlies against Wycombe, Strasbourg, Roma and Bologna. Hürzeler said the extended preparation has made his preferred squad and starting line-up clearer, pointing to continuity from last season along with the integration of new signings.
“The longer time you spend with the team, the more clear is the picture,” he said after the Bologna match, adding that the side had controlled the game and could have scored more. He also acknowledged the players showed signs of fatigue following a long pre-season and a demanding week of fixtures.
Immediate impact for supporters and squad management
Those absences carry practical consequences for selection and tactics. Mitoma’s near return offers some encouragement for Hürzeler — the Japan international has been an influential creative force — but Minteh’s longer-term leg problem and Baleba’s ankle issue remove options in wide and midfield roles at a critical moment for the club.
Brighton face a condensed schedule in the opening weeks: the two-legged Conference League tie against Tromsø and an early Premier League clash with Aston Villa at the Amex on 23 August, before the return fixture with Tromsø at the Amex on 27 August. The club will need to balance ambitions in Europe with a strong start domestically, and available squad depth will be tested.
| Fixture | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Conference League 1st leg v Tromsø | Thursday (this week) | Tromsø |
| Premier League v Aston Villa | Sunday 23 August | Amex Stadium |
| Conference League 2nd leg v Tromsø | Thursday 27 August | Amex Stadium |
For Brighton supporters, the news will sharpen scrutiny of squad rotation and match-day squads in the coming fixtures. Hürzeler’s comments suggest the manager is optimistic about the wider group and the clarity brought by pre-season, but the loss of key players through injury will force selection adjustments and may influence how the club approaches the early tests of the new season.
Brighton travel to Norway with the aura of an unbeaten pre-season behind them, yet Hürzeler’s candid appraisal of injuries shows the practical challenge of turning pre-season form into competitive results when key performers are sidelined. The coming week will provide an early indication of how well the club can absorb those absences.
