£16m Brighton star handed his first home start in Uefa Conference League
Uefa Conference League: Brighton vs Kauno Zalgiris from the Amex Stadium
Brighton winger Ibrahim Osman gets his first run out from the start at the Amex Stadium against Lithuanian club Kauno Zalgiris.
Osman’s only previous start for Brighton was in the first leg of the Uefa Conference League play-off at Tromso.
The Ghana international has so far played the last 24 minutes of the second leg and also made late substitute appearances in the Premier League against Aston Villa, Chelsea and Coventry.
Brighton signed the winger for £16m from Nordsjælland in 2024 and he has had loans at Feyenoord, Auxerre and Birmingham.
Osman on the left
Osman will likely start on the left flank and will provide the attacking threat alongside Georginio Rutter, who makes his first start since the 4-0 Premier League win against Aston Villa on the opening day of the season.
Georginio is fit once again having fully recovered from a foot injury. Fabian Hurzeler made eight changes in total from Saturday’s 2-0 win at Sunderland. Bart Vergruggen, Pascal Gross and Olivier Boscagli all keep their place.
Verbruggen is in goal ahead of Jason Steele, who remains on the bench. Austrian centre back Michael Svoboda also comes in for his first start of the season as Luka Vuskovic takes a rest on the bench.
Skipper Lewis Dunk is also at centre with Costinha at right back and Boscagli on the left. Brighton’s midfield three consists of Gross, Jack Hinshelwood and Denmark international Matt O’Riley.
Brighton fans will be particularly pleased to have Hinshelwood back after. The academy graduate started the season well with two goals against Aston Villa but has since been sidelined with injury.
Malick Yalcouye - now added to the Conference League squad - is likely to on the right flank, alongside Rutter and and Osman.
Brighton XI and bench
Brighton: Verbruggen, Costinha, Dunk, Svoboda, Boscagli, Gross, Hinshelwood, O’Riley, Yalcouye, Rutter, Osman. Subs: Steele, McGill, Promise, Chema, Kostoulas, Kadioglu, Gomez, Ayari, De Cuyper, Vuskovic, Nti, Ibrahim.