Coventry vs Brighton in the Premier League from the Coventry Arena - Sunday, 2pm

Brighton made the very difficult decision to sell Carl Rushworth to Coventry in the previous transfer window.

The goalkeeper spent last season on loan with the Sky Blues and played a key role as he helped Frank Lampard’s team to the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League.

Lampard was determined to sign Rushworth on a permanent basis and a £25m deal was completed for the 25-year-old, who joined Brighton in 2019 but never made a first team appearance for the Seagulls.

The deal for Rushworth included a healthy sell-on fee for Brighton and - perhaps more importantly - a buy-back clause.

Rushworth wanted to join Coventry and equally his path to the Brighton first team is currently blocked by Dutch international goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

Albion also have Jason Steele as an experienced and reliable backup, who head coach Fabian Hurzeler described as the best No 2 in the Premier League.

Hurzeler on Rushworth

”With Carl, he wanted to play,” said the German. “Every player wants to play, and in the end we, we have a clear number one with Bart Verbruggen.

“But we also have maybe the best number two in, in the Premier League with, Jason Steele. We have two really, really good goalkeepers.

Carl had a great development, he had a great loan. We saw in him in a big, big talent. We saw a player who might, can be part of our journey in the future. Who can be, one day in the goal for us as a number one.

“The other part is the individual development from the player, and where can he improve on his own.

“This best is by having minutes by playing regularly, and Coventry gave him this opportunity. There was an exchange with him and in the end, he made this decision.

“We respected it, and I think he definitely deserves it. We are happy for him, but we're happy with the situation we have, because we have two really good goalkeepers.”

Verbruggen the leader

Hurzeler has now challenged Verbruggen to step-up this season and become a real leader in the group.

“One of his great skills is, he maybe didn’t have the best game against Chelsea, and then he immediately refreshed himself, he refreshed his mind, then he had really great performance against Leeds.

“And that's another great example of being a leader. That shows he immediately can put away the bad performances, you can focus on the next game.

“You can be an example by good performances and that's a really important side of a leader.”