Brighton FPL Gameweek 21: What to do about Pedro injury?
Brighton picked up a useful point in their last Premier League outing when drawing 1-1 against Arsenal. FPL favourite Joao Pedro scored the equalising goal from the penalty spot but now finds himself an injury doubt for the Gameweek 21 trip to Ipswich Town.
Pedro required an MRI scan last week on an ankle twisted in training, ruling him out of the Seagulls’ 4-0 win at Norwich City in the FA Cup.
The injury leaves 3.2 million FPL managers with Joao Pedro (£5.7 million) in their squad very nervous about whether he will be fit enough to play at Portman Road.
Pedo himself posted on social media on Saturday night that the scan had come back “okay”. Whilst this is potentially good news, it does not offer much indication over whether he is involved against the Tractor Boys.
Should Fabian Hurzeler reveal bad news about the injury before the trip to Ipswich, expect plenty of FPL managers to sell Pedro before rushing to find the best similarly-priced forwards.
Taking all this into account, here are a couple of interesting Brighton players to be considered ahead of Gameweek 21.
Simon Adingra (£5.2 million)
23-year-old Adingra returned from a loan spell with Union Saint-Gilloise to have a very good 2023-24 campaign. He started 25 league matches, scoring six times and providing one assist.
Two of those goals came in one game away against relegation candidates Sheffield United. Adingra also played a key role in Ivory Coast’s stunning AFCON success.
But with Kaoru Mitoma (£6.4 million) recovered from previous ankle and back injuries, Adingra has had a more peripheral role under Hurzeler so far. Hardly a surprise given the wealth of wingers available to Hurzeler.
Mitoma though has looked in need of a rest in recent weeks, affording Adingra back-to-back Premier League starts. He has made the most of them, scoring in Gameweek 19 at Aston Villa.
A long ball upfield bounced in a way that allowed Adingra to take control and fire past the goalkeeper, taking himself onto five for the season. Just one shy of his 203-24 total with five months of the campaign still to play.
Over his outings against Villa and Arsenal, Adingra has accumulated four shots and two big chances. One of those big chances he could he considered unlucky not to have done better with, losing his balance at the vital moment to blaze wide in the draw with the Gunners.
One cause for concern for FPL managers considering Adingra is he has was taken off around the hour mark in both those games. Should he keep his place in Hurzeler’s starting XI, however, he could be a great differential for upcoming games against Ipswich, Manchester United and Everton.
Especially when you consider his form last season when facing struggling opponents, such as that aforementioned 5-0 win against the Blades.
Jan Paul van Hecke (£4.5 million)
Brighton kept a shutout at Norwich which Hurzeler will be hoping can lead to improved defensive performances in the Premier League – and maybe a clean sheet somewhere in those next three games.
If that proves the case, Jan Paul van Hecke looks certain to benefit. He is as close to a guaranteed start as there is at the Albion, even before injuries ruled out fellow centre backs Lewis Dunk and Igor to leave Brighton stretched in that position.
Van Hecke is also still without a Premier League goal. Last season saw him finish as the only defender with at least 10 headed attempts not to score.
Following that underachievement, this time the Dutchman has been more about setting up teammates. By creating three big chances, he is one of Brighton’s best attacking origins.
Captaincy
Gameweek 20 was a rare occasion where Mohamed Salah (£13.7 million) was outdone by the likes of Erling Haaland (£14.8 million) and Cole Palmer (£11.4 million).
Salah now faces a tricky trip to the Tricky Trees. High flying Nottingham Forest are known for their resolute defence and could push themselves firmly into the title picture with a victory over Arne Slot’s Reds at the City Ground.
FPL manager’s captaincy thoughts may therefore switch to Alexander Isak (£9.3 million) at home to Wolves. Isak is aiming to score in an eighth successive league game as Newcastle look to continue their superb winning streak.
Isak will come into the game fit and refreshed having sat out the Toon Army’s FA Cup win over League Two outfit Bromley on Sunday.
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