Brighton chief makes bold Adam Lallana admission after 'risky signing' from Liverpool claim

Lallana went off injured in the first half of his Premier League debut against Chelsea last Monday after suffering from severe cramping in his calf.

The 32-year-old joined on a free transfer from champions Liverpool this summer on a three year contract and was making his first Premier League start since December 2019.

Lallana was hindered by injuries during his time at Anfield and the Chelsea match was just his 10th Premier League start in the last four seasons.

Brighton feared the worst when he hobbled off in the 45th minute on Monday evening but Albion boss Graham Potter said the injury was from 'heavy contacts' during a bruising defeat rather than anything muscular.

Lallana has a chance of featuring for Brighton at Newcastle this Sunday but a decision on the extent of his involvement at St James' Park - if any - will be made as late as possible.

"You accept that that is the situation he has had in the past and learn from that situation and try to help him get on the pitch more," said Potter when asked if the high-profile summer signing of Lallana was a risk.

"When you sign a player you can never predict what will happen totally but I accept that he is a slightly different case.

"For what he brings on and off the pitch it is worth the 'risk' because he adds to our environment and adds to what we are trying to do on a daily basis.

"At the same time you could see what he did when he was on (against Chelsea), it was a performance of high quality."

Ben White’s maiden Premier League appearance also ended prematurely against Frank Lampard’s Blues.

The centre-back, who starred on loan at Leeds last term, was forced off late on in the 3-1 defeat by an ankle problem.

Like Lallana, Potter remains hopeful White can be involved this weekend.

“It’s a bit like Adam. He’s got a chance for Newcastle but at the moment a little bit too early to say for definite.”

Dutch international midfielder Davy Propper is available for selection following his 90 minutes in midweek against Portsmouth as he continues to regain full fitness following an Achilles problem.

Goalkeeper Christian Walton (ankle) and long-term absentees Florin Andone and Jose Izquierdo remain unavailable.

Newcastle striker Yoshinori Muto has joined Spanish club Eibar on a season-long loan deal, while keeper Martin Dubravka (ankle), defender Paul Dummett (tendon), defender Fabian Schar (shoulder), midfielder Matty Longstaff (thigh) and striker Dwight Gayle (knee) are still out for Steve Bruce's men.

Newcastle provisional squad: Darlow, Gillespie, Lewis, Yedlin, Manquillo, Krafth, Lascelles, Fernandez, Clark, Shelvey, Hayden, S. Longstaff, Hendrick, Ritchie, Fraser, Atsu, Barlaser, Murphy, Saint-Maximin, Almiron, Wilson, Joelinton.

Brighton provisional squad: Ryan, Steele, Lamptey, White, Webster, Dunk, Burn, Veltman, Bernardo, Bissouma, Lallana, Stephens, Propper, Alzate, March, Gross, Mac Allister, Jahanbakhsh, Trossard, Connolly, Maupay, Gyokeres.