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Lewis Dunk will miss out on the chance to lead Brighton out on their first ever European night, it has been confirmed.

The Albion skipper, and longest-serving player, is missing from the Europa League squad to face AEK Athens after it was speculated on social media that he picked up a knock.

His absence means Brazil defender Igor Julio will make his debut. The 25-year-old is one of seven changes from the 3-1 win at Manchester United on Saturday (September 16).

Also missing from the squad is 18-year-old Evan Ferguson. The Irishman didn’t play for his country in the international break due to an injury but came on a late-substitution at Old Trafford.

Roberto De Zerbi, manager of Brighton & Hove Albion, walks out with members of the backroom staff prior to the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 group stage match between Brighton & Hove Albion and AEK Athens FC (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Ansu Fati, another late sub on Saturday, will make his full debut tonight. Also brought into the starting Xl is James Milner, Pevis Estupinan, Solly March, Billy Gilmour and Joao Pedro.

Joel Veltman, Tariq Lamptey, Mahmoud Dahoud, Simon Adingra, Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck all drop to the bench. The only players to keep their place in the team are Jason Steele, Jan van Hecke, Pascal Gross and Kaoru Mitoma.

Brighton XI: Steele, Milner, Van Hecke, Igor Julio, Estupinan, March, Gilmour, Mitoma, Gross, Fati, Joao Pedro

Subs: Verbruggen, McGill, Lamptey, Webster, Dahoud, Lallana, Welbeck, Baleba, Adingra, Veltman, Bounanotte, Hinshelwood

AEK Athens XI: Stankovic, Szymanski, Amrabat, Jonsson, Garcia, Gacinovic, Araujo, Pineda, Mitoglou, Hajsafi, Sidibe

Subs: Athanasiadis, Theocharis, Mohammadi, Zuber, Rota, Pronce, Eliasson, Mantalos, Galanopoulos, Pizarro

Brighton vs AEK Athens: Two major absentees on historic night as Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati set to start and Brazil defender given debut