Nottingham Forest vs Brighton in the Premier League from the City Ground this Sunday - 2.05pm

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler believes “small issues” have prevented Tommy Watson from making a greater impact this season.

Albion signed Watson for around £10m from Sunderland last summer but the winger has seen just 40 minutes of Premier League action so far.

His two outings came from the bench as he played 30 minutes in the 4-2 loss at Manchester United and then featured in the final 10 minutes of Brighton’s 3-0 home win against Leeds United.

His only start this term came in the third round of the Carabao Cup, where he claimed a hat-trick of assists during the 6-0 win at Barnsley.

Watson then missed the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace and last week’s 2-1 home win against Brentford with a muscular issue.

The former Sunderland man has been training this week and Hurzeler is keen to have him back as an option for this Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest - especially as fellow left winger Kaoru Mitoma remains out with an ankle issue.

“Yeah, he's training again,” said Hurzeler to Sussex World. “Everything is fine regarding the loads, regarding how his body reacts after his training week, for sure he can be an option.

“He has been a little bit unlucky at the moment with the small issues, they're not big injuries, but just small issues, what stops him to get really into rhythm.

“I think he proved already in this season what he's capable of doing for us, that he has big potential. But it's really about getting him into rhythm, getting him back to his physical fitness.”

Fabian Hurzeler’s adaptation process

Watson, along with other summer singings Stefanos Tzimas, Charalampos Kostoulas, Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli, have all been used sparingly so far as they go through - as Hurzeler puts it - “an adaptation process.”

Hurzeler added: “When you're physically fit, then you're mentally ready and when you're mentally ready, then you come into a pitch with a big self-confidence, with a big belief into your quality, and that's what we try to get out of him.

“But the main thing is really stay fit, stay healthy, try to get into rhythm, and then I think he can play an important part for us."

For your next Albion read: Baleba dropped, Georginio decision - Brighton's strongest XI to face Nottingham Forest as it stands