Igor back but no Fati: Sheffield United v Brighton team news
Igor! Igor! Igor! The return of the Brazilian defender from injury is the headline team news as Brighton travel to Sheffield United in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
It will be the first time Igor has been available for a matchday squad since going off injured when the Albion hammered Spurs 4-2 last month.
Igor is likely to start on the bench in the Steel City with Roberto De Zerbi easing him back into action carefully. The same is true of Tariq Lamptey, who made his own comeback from injury as a second half substitute in Monday night’s 0-0 draw against Wolves.
Speaking about Lamptey and the role he might play in the Brighton team for the trip to Sheffield United, De Zerbi said: “Tariq is not ready to start yet.”
“He has to reach the best physical condition which has not been easy as he has not played for three months. Against Wolves he played 20 minutes but it was clear he didn’t feel in the best condition, but that is normal. To reach that he has to spend time on the pitch.”
One player who will not be involved at Bramall Lane is Ansu Fati. The on-loan Barcelona forward returned to full training this week after recovering from an unspecified muscle injury picked up in the 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest.
De Zerbi though has confirmed the FA Cup tie comes too soon for Fati, meaning the Albion will need to find a way to break down the Blades without any wingers.
Kaoru Mitoma and Simon Adingra remain on Asian Cup and AFCON duty with Japan and Ivory Coast respectively. Solly March is out for the season.
Brighton lacked natural width and pace when drawing blanks in their two most recent Premier League outings against Wolves and West Ham.
De Zerbi also spoke about Mahmoud Dahoud, who has been cast into the wilderness since his ridiculous red card when Brighton drew with the Blades at the Amex in November.
“Mo Dahoud is working better. But Baleba, Milner, Pascal Gross and Billy Gilmour are playing very well. For now, I prefer the other four midfielders. I am always open to changing my opinion and then it is not a problem to change.”
Second-guessing what De Zerbi will do in a season when he was rotated more heavily that any other top flight manager is difficult at the best of times – let alone for an FA Cup tie with an important league match at Luton Town on Tuesday night.
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Jakub Moder will surely receive minutes as he continues his step up from 19 months out after rupturing his ACL. Adam Webster also needs game time and both Adam Lallana and Evan Ferguson have been used mainly from the bench in recent matches.
Because Bramall Lane is a Premier League stadium, VAR will be present. It was rather nice being able to celebrate goals during the Albion’s third round win at Stoke City without the nagging doubt Stockley Park would stick its beak in to find a fingernail offside.
The referee for Sheffield United v Brighton is Sunny Singh Gill. It will be the first time Mr Gill has officiated the Albion.
He works part-time as a prison officer, suggesting he is not the sort of person Lewis Dunk wants to end up calling a bald prick.
Not that the Brighton captain will need to resort to that; Mr Gill has a lovely head of hair.
