Kaoru Mitoma will miss Brighton’s derby against Crystal Palace, with Fabian Hurzeler urging patience over the winger’s return from injury.

Albion’s head coach confirmed the Japan international remains unavailable for Sunday’s clash at the Amex, despite encouraging progress elsewhere among his injured players.

Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer also remain sidelined for the Palace match, although Hurzeler suggested both could return relatively soon.

Mitoma’s recovery appears less advanced, with the Brighton boss taking a more cautious tone when discussing the winger.

Kaoru Mitoma will miss Brighton’s derby against Crystal Palace, with Fabian Hurzeler urging patience over the winger’s return from injury. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

placeholder image — Kaoru Mitoma will miss Brighton’s derby against Crystal Palace, with Fabian Hurzeler urging patience over the winger’s return from injury. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Asked whether more players were approaching a comeback – following Jack Hinshelwood’s goalscoring return against Kauno Zalgiris – Hurzeler said: “Not for this weekend, but definitely for the next games there might be options.”

He added: “Especially with Minteh and Mats Wieffer I think we see a quite quick return,” before stressing that, with Mitoma, ‘we have to be a little bit more patient’.

Brighton have continued to thrive despite their absentees, moving to third in the Premier League and beating Zalgiris 4-0 in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday.

Hinshelwood scored on his return, Georginio Rutter struck twice and Matt O’Riley headed home Albion’s fourth as several players seized their opportunity.

However, Hurzeler insisted the team’s success does not change the approach to bringing injured players back.

“Our goal is always to bring the players back as quick as possible, but also don’t take any risks,” he said.

“That’s always how we try to manage it, no matter which situation we are.”

The Brighton boss wants his returning players to increase competition within a squad already demonstrating its depth.

“It’s important that all the players who are doing rehab at the moment come back as quick as possible, that we can even grow and increase the competition we have,” he said.

“So far what I see, and what I heard from the players who were injured, they are also pushing to come back.”

For now, Albion will have to approach one of their biggest fixtures of the season without Mitoma, with Hurzeler yet to offer a firm return date.