Enciso back & dinner with De Zerbi: Brighton v Everton team news
Somewhere in amongst the mad rush to book flights and accommodation for all roads leading to Rome in under two weeks time, Roberto De Zerbi also dropped some big team news in his press conference before Brighton welcome Everton to the Amex.
Team news and dinner plans, actually. Julio Enciso will be on the bench for the first time since suffering a meniscus injury in August – but far more exciting was the revelation that De Zerbi had Ansu Fati round for dinner in midweek.
My mind is absolutely blown that not only did Roberto De Zerbi have Ansu Fati and Pervis Estupinan round for dinner (he cooked pasta), but RDZ was that confident in his culinary skills that he invited Gregg Wallace as well #BHAFC pic.twitter.com/PmhXVZCpRb
— We Are Brighton (@wearebrighton) February 23, 2024
De Zerbi apparently cooked pasta for Fati, Pervis Estupinan, Andrea Maldera and Gregg Wallace. Oh to have been a fly on the wall at De Zerbi’s home to have heard what Gregg made of De Zerbi’s cooking skills.
As well as Gregg reviewing the food, De Zerbi said that the group talked football – with a particular onus on what Fati can offer Brighton offer the remaining few months of his loan spell.
“He knows he has to give something more,” De Zerbi said. “We are here to help the young players, especially if these young players have so big talent.”
Enciso is one such young player De Zerbi and his team helped before injury got in the way. The Paraguayan had begun the campaign in flying form, carrying on where he left off at the end of 2022-23 when scoring stunning goals in a 2-1 win at Chelsea and the 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Amex.
Meniscus problems can be terribly complicated and ultimately end careers if not treated correctly – just ask Jose Izquierdo.
To have Enciso back in the first team squad will provide the Albion with a real boost, even if his game time has to be carefully managed.
Less good news came when De Zerbi revealed Kaoru Mitoma would probably not be in the Brighton team to take on Everton on account of a back injury.
De Zerbi stressed it was not a result of Mason Holgate’s horror tackle on the Japanese Bullet Train last week, bur rather an unrelated problem.
“We have a problem with Kaoru Mitoma, he has a problem with his back,” the Albion head coach said. “I don’t know if he can play. We will analyse the situation in the next day.”
“We are used to playing without important players, whether it’s Kaoru, Julio. Julio will be on the bench though, it’s great news.”
Brighton continue to be vague about when top scorer Joao Pedro might be seen again. Pedro has missed the last two matches with a hamstring problem.
He was due to undergo a scan leading up to the 5-0 win over Sheffield United, the results of which the Albion are keeping close to their chest.
De Zerbi said it could be two, three or four weeks before Pedro returns. The Albion did at least cope reasonably well without Pedro at Bramall Lane.
Seagulls supporters will be hoping that extends into coping better against Everon than Brighton managed last season.
Even by the standards of Sean Dyche’s impressive record visiting the Amex, for the Albion to be hammered 5-1 on home turf by a relegation Toffees side was completely humiliating.
Beat Everton on this occasion to inflict a first away defeat against Brighton on Dyche in 10 years and who knows, the whole squad might be invited to De Zerbi’s for dinner next Thursday night.
