Hurzeler considers Cup changes: Newcastle v Brighton team news
The main team news ahead of Brighton travelling to Newcastle United in the FA Cup is that Fabian Hurzeler may make changes to freshen up his team.
Hurzeler named full strength starting XIs for both the round three win over Norwich City and the fourth round elimination of Chelsea.
But The Youngest Permanent Manager in Premier League History is considering a change of approach for the trip to St James’ Park.
Hurzeler said in his pre-game press conference that this being the Albion’s third game in the space of eight days would be a factor in selection.
Brighton were made to work mighty hard for their 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday night. And a number of players who started all four matches through the Albion’s recent winning streak have only just returned from injury.
Hurzeler namechecked Adam Webster and Tariq Lamptey. The defensive duo have endured their fair share of fitness issues over the past couple of years. Making them prime candidates to sit out of the tie against the Saudi Sportswashers.
“We have players like Tariq and Adam, who because we had a lot of injuries, they had to go through two times 90 minutes,” said Hurzeler.
“They are the things we have to control, where we have to assist and then we will see who will play on Sunday.”
“The most important is that we get the most fresh team on the pitch, the most ready team on the pitch and therefore we have to make the right choice.”
Should Lamptey and Webster be missing when the Brighton team news comes in from Newcastle, their replacements appear fairly obviously.
Jack Hinshelwood would presumably come in at right back, along with a debut for £9 million January signing Eiran Cashin partnering Jan Paul van Hecke in the middle.
Hurzeler might also see the FA Cup as a means for getting minutes into Mats Wieffer. The Dutchman has not started a game since scoring his first Albion goal away at West Ham United a week before Christmas.
Who Wieffer takes over from is less obviously. The last time Carlos Baleba missed a game, Brighton shipped seven goals.
Diego Gomez meanwhile was outstanding against Bournemouth and should still be relatively fresh, having barely featured since his arrival from Inter Miami.
In terms of injuries, Hurzeler confirmed that Lewis Dunk and Joel Veltman remain unavailable. Danny Welbeck is fit after coming off the bench to score the winner on Tuesday night.
Newcastle have a big injury concern of their own. 21 goal top scorer Alexander Isak missed the Toon’s midweek defeat at Liverpool.
Smug Eddie Howe was unsure whether Isak would recover from his groin injury in time to face the Albion. And even if he does, would Howe risk Isak in the FA Cup? Newcastle have bigger fish to fry. Not only are they eyeing up a top four finish.
But they also have the smaller matter of a League Cup final against Liverpool in two weeks. Howe will want Isak fit and fresh for Wembley as the Toon aim to win a first piece of silverware in 70 years.
