Dunk & Minteh in squad: Brighton v Southampton team news
Fabian Hurzeler confirmed that both Lewis Dunk and Yankubu Minteh will return to the Brighton matchday squad for the game against Southampton in headline team news.
Dunk has not been seen since getting injured in the warmup before the 2-2 draw with Wolves four weeks ago. The Albion have since beaten Manchester City and Plucky Little Bournemouth and gave runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool a fright at Anfield.
Having coped well without their captain, Hurzeler now faces the difficult decision of whether to restore Dunk straight into the starting XI at the expense of Igor Julio.
When it looked like Dunk might be fit for the trip to the Vitality Stadium last Saturday, we ran a poll on the WAB Twitter page over who should play.
55 percent voted that Hurzeler should stick with Igor. Food for thought for the bloke on Facebook who described the debate as “gutter journalism” because he felt not playing Dunk was inconceivable.
Minteh meanwhile missed Bournemouth having fallen unwell in the week leading up to it. His own return from injury came on international duty with Gambia, with Hurzeler saying before the game against the Cherries that he was pleased Minteh had got minutes under his belt.
Other team news ahead of Brighton hosting Southampton included Tariq Lamptey being available for selection. Jack Hinshelwood, however, remains injured and Carlos Baleba is suspended after his controversial sending off at Bournemouth.
Hurzeler used his pre-Saints press conference to reaffirm his view that Baleba should not have been shown a controversial second yellow card.
But The Youngest Permanent Manager in Premier League History added words of praise for Cherries left back Milos Kerkez for being clever enough to get Baleba dismissed.
The absence of Baleba will open the door for either Mats Wieffer or Matt O’Riley to come into the side. Ferdi Kadioglu is described as doubtful, which in Brighton & Hove Albion terms means he is definitely out and has had his head amputated.
Hurzeler also spoke about the immediate futures of Evan Feguson and Julio Enciso. Both have been linked with loan moves away from Brighton in January having struggled for Premier League game time so far this season.
Enciso even turned out for the Under 21s on Tuesday night in their Premier League International Cup game against Anderlecht. Hurzeler revealed Enciso had asked to play and praised the Paraguayan for seizing the initiative by asking for minutes.
On those potential loans, Hurzeler added: “I don’t know from where this information comes.” The fact club spokesperson Andy Naylor has discussed the prospect of both leaving on loan suggests the rumours have some credence, even if Hurzeler wants to play them down.
