Brajan Gruda absence explained for Brighton at Fulham
Fulham vs Brighton in the Premier League at Craven Cottage - Saturday, 3pm
Winger Brajan Gruda was a notable absentee from the matchday squad as Brighton named their starting XI to face Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Fabian Hurzeler's line-up left many in the media room scratching their heads and no doubt Fulham boss Marco Silva will be doing the same - which may prove to be no bad thing.
It looks as though the Seagulls will play a four at the back, although that could easily switch to three due to he inclusion of versatile defender Olivier Boscagli.
The Frenchman makes just his third Premier League start of the campaign following his free transfer arrival from PSV Eindhoven.
Gruda, who has featured of late on the right flank and was man of the match in the FA Cup win at Manchester United, is sidelined with what the club described as a “small issue.”
Check Sussex World after the match when we get more details in the post match press conference from Craven Cottage. His absence is a surprise a there was no mention of issue prior to the match. Solly March (knee), Adam Webster (knee) and Stefanos Tzimas (knee) are the long-term injuries.
Bart Verbruggen keeps his spot in goal and it looks as though Ferdi Kadioglu will be at right back, with Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke and Boscagli completing the rear guard.
The midfield will likely be a trio with Pascal Gross, Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari providing the legs and guile. It’s Baleba’s first start following his return from the Afcon.
In attack, I'm guessing Diego Gomez will be on the right, Kaoru Mitoma on the left with veteran striker Danny Welbeck going through the middle.
Brighton bench looks strong
Brighton do have plenty of options from the bench with Yankuba Minteh, Georginio, Jack Hinshelwood and Charalampos Kostoulas all pushing.
James Milner, Maxim De Cuyper, Joel Veltman, Diego Coppola make up the bench.
Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke, Baleba, Welbeck, Boscagli, Mitoma, Kadioglu, Gomez, Ayari, Gross. Subs: Steele, Rutter, Minteh, Hinshelwood, Kostoulas, Milner, De Cuyper, Veltman, Coppola.
Fulham XI: Leno, Andersen, Jimenez, Wilson, Cuenca, Berge, Iwobi, Castagne, Kevin, Smith Rowe, Robinson. Subs: Lecomte, Bassey, Reed, Cairney, Kusi-Asare, Chukwueze, King, Sessegnon, Diop.