Crystal Palace vs Brighton confirmed injury news: Five ruled out and star man is '50-50'
Crystal Palace vs Brighton in the Premier League at Selhurst Park this Sunday - 2pm
Brighton had mixed news on the injury front ahead of Sunday's trip to old rivals Crystal Palace.
Albion have suffered with injuries this term and go into the match at Selhurst Park with five players ruled out.
There was however one positive as experienced defender Joel Veltman returned after a five match absence with a calf injury.
Solly March (knee) and Adam Webster (knee) are the long-term absentees, while Jack Hinshelwood (ankle), Brajan Gruda (knee) and James Milner (muscular) remain sidelined.
There was also progress for Brighton’s star winger Kaoru Mitoma. The Japan international started the first six matches of the Premier League season but sustained an ankle injury in the 3-1 win at Chelsea last month.
Mitoma has missed the last five matches and Fabian Hurzeler rated him at 50-50 to face Crystal Palace.
Hurzeler, speaking in his pre Crystal Palace press conference, said: “There are no new injury concerns after the Leeds match.
“Joel [Veltman] will be back as an option and Kaoru [Mitoma] is very close. James [Milner] is out, [Brajan] Gruda will be missing and Jack [Hinshelwood] is missing.
Hurzeler added: “Mitoma is 50-50 we will have to see how he is doing in the training sessions. He is not 100 per cent ruled out.”
Hurzeler: We will give everything for the fans
Hurzeler is fully aware of how important the Brighton- Palace matches are to Albion fans. Last season Palace did the double over Brighton that is something Hurzeler is keen to put right.
“I understood it [the rivalry] from the first second,” said Hurzeler. “It's a big responsibility we have, not only for us, we have it for the whole club to give them something back, to give the supporters something back, especially for them.
“We have to promise to never give up, we have to promise to put the most effort we can give into this game and try to do everything to win this game.
“In the end you can't promise wins, but you can promise that you leave the heart on the pitch, and that's what we try to do on Sunday.
“We are desperate to win this game because it has a big meaning and the supporters are great.
“They were great last season, they support us at home, they support us away, so we have a big responsibility to give them something back.”