Carlos Baleba absence explained for Brighton at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest vs Brighton and Hove Albion confirmed team news
Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba was a notable absentee from Fabian Hurzeler’s starting XI to face Nottingham Forest.
The Cameroon international has struggled to find his best form this season and was substituted at halftime last Saturday against Brentford. It was the fifth time Baleba has has been hooked by Hurzeler during the interval.
Baleba was linked with a summer move to Manchester United and the persistent transfer speculation appears to have disrupted the 21-year-old.
Hurzeler, speaking ahead of the trip to the City Ground, said: “ I think it [transfer speculation] has gone now.
“So we are now four months into the season, I think we can't speak about these rumours anymore.
“It's about being a Brighton player, it's about performing here well, it's about getting him back to his best level.
“So avoid the noise, avoid all the rumours and focus on the things you can influence and the things you can do best, and that's football.”
Hurzeler also spoke on how Baleba needs to be “switched on” in defensive areas of the pitch.
Diego Gomez in the central midfield role
Diego Gomez is expected to fill the ‘Baleba role’ as he partners Yasin Ayari in the centre of the park. Jack Hinshelwood, who returned from injury and the scored the winner against Brentford, is on the bench.
Skipper Lewis Dunk is fully fit once again after illness and returns to partner Jan Paul van Hecke at centre back, with Oliver Boscagli dropping back to the bench.
Belgium international Maxim De Cuyper is back in the XI and is expected to play at left back with Ferdi Kadioglu expected to play higher up the pitch in the left wing role. Kaoru Mitoma remain sidelined with an ankle injury.
James Milner (muscular) and Tommy Watson (small injury) are also out. Solly March and Adam Webster are the long term absentees.
Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke, Rutter, Minteh, Welbeck, Kadioglu, Gomez, Ayari, Wieffer, De Cuyper. Subs: Steele, Gruda, Tzimas, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Kostoulas, Boscagli, Veltman, Coppola.
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Williams, Morato, Sangare, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Dominguez, Jesus, Milenkovic, Savona. Subs: Victor, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo, Hutchinson, Yates, Cunha, McAtee, Boly, Abbott.
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