Back injury leaves Welbeck doubtful: Brighton v Wolves team news
An injury update on Danny Welbeck was what every Albion fan was waiting on when Fabian Hurzeler delivered team news in his press conference before Brighton welcome Wolves to the Amex.
And it did not sound like particularly good news. Which should not come as a surprise after Welbeck was stretchered off and given oxygen in the closing stages of last weekend’s 1-0 win at Newcastle United.
Welbeck was taken to Newcastle Royal Infirmary A&E and underwent scans before being discharged in time to join the Albion on their flight home to London Gatwick.
Hurzeler confirmed that Welbeck remains in a lot of pain nearly a week later. He took a whack straight to a nerve in his back which subsequently left him with little feeling in his legs. Not a particularly helpful situation for a professional footballer to be in.
Brighton will take a decision on whether Welbeck can play against Wolves based on how he fares in training. But Hurzeler did not sound confident.
“It’s very painful. It’s still painful,” the Youngest Permanent Manager in Premier League history said of the Welbeck injury.
“But we have to we have to make a check in a training session, and then we have to make a lot of treatment for him.”
“Our medical team and our physios, they are working every hour with him together and to make him fit for the game. This will be the challenge for us but hopefully everything will be good.”
Welbeck has scored five times in eight Premier League matches for Brighton this season. Take away his goals and the Albion would be just above the relegation zone rather than sitting pretty in fifth.
Dat Guy’s absence would therefore represent a significant blow, leaving Evan Ferguson to lead the line. Ferguson made his first start of the season alongside Welbeck at Newcastle as Hurzeler switched to a 4-4-2 formation in an attempt to contain the Toon.
The Irish striker gave a hardworking performance with his defending and pressing from the front earing praised from Hurzeler in the pre-Wolves press conference.
Ferguson though remains without a goal for club and country going back to the 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest on November 25th last year.
The Albion will be without another attacking threat against Wolves as Joao Pedro remains side lined. Hurzeler’s latest update on Pedro was: “I think there will be a comeback soon but I can’t say a date.”
In other Brighton v Wolves team news, Yankubu Minteh is a doubt having been denied the opportunity to face his old club at St James’ Park due to a muscle injury.
Adam Webster will not return to training for another two to three weeks and the Albion will continue to monitor Solly March on his slow and steady recovery from ACL surgeries.
On the plus side, Simon Adingra is likely to return to the matchday squad. He has proven a useful impact sub this season, which could be important against a Wolves side who gave Manchester City plenty of problems before falling to a 2-1 defeat via a controversial 95th minute winner from John Stones.
