Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has confirmed that young attacker Brajan Gruda will miss the upcoming Premier League clash against Newcastle United due to injury.
The German forward picked up a knee problem in Brighton’s last league match before the international break and was forced to withdraw from Germany’s Under-21 squad.
A statement from the German Football Association revealed that the injury was a result of “persistent knee problems” sustained during Brighton’s draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and his recovery has taken longer than expected.
Gruda had been enjoying a positive start to the season, featuring in all seven of Brighton’s Premier League matches so far.
The talented winger had also started two of the team’s last three league fixtures, including that trip to Molineux, and was beginning to play an increasingly important role under Hurzeler.
However, the Brighton boss confirmed during his pre-match press conference that the player has not recovered in time to face Newcastle, explaining that it has been a difficult period for managing players returning from international duties.
“Unfortunately, players don’t always come back in the same condition we send them to the national team,” Hurzeler said. “A lot of players return with minor issues, and we’ve tried to manage it over the last few days. But Brajan Gruda won’t be available to play tomorrow.”
Brighton’s squad has been hit by several injury concerns ahead of their meeting with Eddie Howe’s in-form Newcastle side.
Paraguayan forward Diego Gomez, who made headlines last month with a four-goal performance in the Carabao Cup win over Barnsley, is also a doubt.
Gomez picked up a thigh contusion while on international duty earlier this week and was forced off in discomfort during Paraguay’s game. Although his condition is not considered serious, Hurzeler stated that the 20-year-old would need to be assessed further before deciding if he could be involved against the Magpies.
“The other players, including Diego Gomez, will need to be evaluated today,” Hurzeler said. “There’s still a high chance that they could be fit enough to start or feature in the game, but we need to be cautious.”
Further complicating Brighton’s preparations, key players Kaoru Mitoma and Joel Veltman are both facing late fitness tests. Veltman has been struggling with a calf injury, while Mitoma has been nursing an issue picked up in the club’s victory over Chelsea last month.
The Japanese international missed Brighton’s last league outing and was unable to join up with his national team during the break. Hurzeler confirmed that both players are back in training but admitted that their availability for the weekend remains uncertain.
“Kaoru Mitoma and Joel Veltman have returned to training, but we’ll have to assess them carefully,” Hurzeler added. “There are still question marks over their fitness, so we’ll have to wait until the last moment to make a decision.”
Meanwhile, Newcastle United have their own injury problems to contend with. Yoane Wissa and Tino Livramento remain sidelined due to knee injuries, with both expected to return sometime next month.
Lewis Hall is also ruled out for the trip to the south coast after suffering a hamstring injury. However, Eddie Howe delivered some good news regarding the young defender, suggesting that he could return to action before the November international break after recent scan results indicated positive progress.
There is also a boost for the Magpies with the return of Jacob Ramsey, who is now fit and available for selection for the first time since August.
Howe confirmed that Ramsey’s return comes at a crucial time, especially with Joelinton nursing a slight knock picked up while on international duty. Will Osula is another player being monitored after suffering an ankle issue, though his condition is not thought to be serious.
Both managers will head into the game juggling selection dilemmas, with key players either unavailable or short of full fitness.
Brighton’s attacking rhythm could be disrupted without Gruda, while Newcastle will be hoping that the recent form of Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon can help them maintain momentum.
For Hurzeler and Howe alike, managing the balance between player welfare and competitive performance will be key as both sides aim to continue their positive starts to the season.
