ATHENS, GREECE - NOVEMBER 30: Joao Pedro of Brighton & Hove Albion celebrates after scoring the team's first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 match betweek AEK Athens FC and Brighton & Hove Albion on November 30, 2023 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)
Brighton facing dilemma after latest injury concern and another £25m signing ruled out ahead of Wolves.
All the latest team news for Brighton and Hove Albion ahead of their Carabao Cup clash with Wolves
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler is uncertain if star striker Joao Pedro will be fit to face Wolves in the Carabao Cup tomorrow night.
Pedro, 22, missed the 0-0 draw with Ipswich Town in the Premier League last Saturday with a slight knock sustained on international duty and the Brazilian will be assessed ahead of their third round clash against Gary O’Neil’s struggling Wolves team.
“We have to see after training today [Tuesday],” said Hurzeler. “Like I said after the game against Ipswich, we don’t want to take any risk with him. So let’s see in training today and then we will decide if it makes sense to let him play or not.”
Brajan Gruda, who joined from Mainz for £25m this summer, is yet to feature for the Seagulls but remains on the sidelines for this tie and will likely be unavailable to face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this Sunday.
Hurzeler said: “With Gruda, he’s still in rehab training, which we have to go day-by-day with. But he’s making great improvements with his issue and I’m really looking forward to him being back in training soon.”
Record £40m signing Georinio Rutter, who made his home debut in the 0-0 draw against Ipswich, is cup-tied, while another £25m arrival Matt O’Riley continues his recovery from ankle surgery having been clobbered six minutes into his debut in the Carabao Cup second round against Crawley Town. Veteran James Milner is also out with a hamstring issue picked up in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal just prior to the international break.
