Brighton Under 21s who could step up to ease injury crisis

As Brighton continue to pick up more injuries and suspensions with each passing match, the focus on their Under 21s squad only increases.

Jack Hinshelwood found himself playing out-of-position at left back in the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest. Hinshelwood was one of four development squad players in the matchday squad, along with unused substitutes Ben Jackson, Benicio Baker-Boaitey and Josh Duffus.

With first teamers Evan Ferguson, Facundo Buonanotte and Carlos Baleba also featuring at the City Ground, the Albion fielded four teenagers in 90 minutes. How many Premier League clubs have ever done that before? The total could have been more if Julio Enciso were fit.

Moving into December and the Seagulls face a gruelling schedule of nine games in 34 days. An equivalent fixture jam at the end of last season led to a number of the then Under 21s squad tasting first team action for Brighton.

Hinshelwood, Odel Offiah, Andy Moran and Cameron Peupion all made their Premier League debuts. With a squad currently spread even thinner thanks to a deeper injury crisis, Roberto De Zerbi looks sure to find himself giving more game time to players from the development side.

Additionally, the club might be looking at whether any of the army of Brighton players out on loan at the moment should be brought back.

The importance of young talent developing through regular first team football is well known and the Albion are more successful than most at it.

But at this particular moment in time, the first team squad would be significantly stronger if some of Deniz Undav, Steve Alzate, Jeremy Sarmiento, Abdallah Sima, Ed Turns or Moran were available.

Brighton currently have 16 players out on loan, the majority of them from the development setup. Despite this talent drain and losing others like Hinshelwood to the senior squad, the Under 21s are quietly enjoying an increasingly successful season.

Many of their matches are no less thrilling than the first team, as evidenced by the 4-3 victory over Celtic at the Amex on Friday night secured via a 97th minute winner.

Who then from the Under 21s are best placed and most likely to step up to the Brighton first team square over the coming weeks?

The table below shows appearances to date across all four of the competitions the Under 21s compete in – Premier League 2, the Premier League International Cup, the Premier League Cup and the Football League Trophy.

Tom McGill, Tariq Lamptey and Jakub Moder have all featured as overaged players to gain match fitness, whilst Peupion and Moran are amongst those now out on loan.

Goalkeepers
Promising Republic of Ireland Under 21s goalkeeper Killian Cahill looks to have a bright future in the game – but he faces tough competition breaking through at Brighton given the presence of Carl Rushworth, Kjell Scherpen and James Beadle.

McGill has been given valuable game time in the development squad as part of his role supporting Jason Steele and Bart Verbruggen. 18-year-old Tommy Reid meanwhile is a member of the England Under 19 squad.

Defenders
Whilst many supporters expressed concern over left back cover at the start of the season, the Albion went into the campaign with five plausible options – Pervis Estupinan, Lamptey, James Milner, Igor Julio and Solly March.

It is remarkable that all five have been ruled out at the same time. In addition, both Kaoru Mitoma and Simon Adingra have played as left wing backs for Japan and Union Saint-Gilloise respectively. Mitoma of course is also injured.

And so against Forest, it fell to 18-year-old midfielder Hinshelwood to take on the left back role after Lamptey limped off.

Unsurprisingly, it was a mixed performance from Hinshelwood with De Zerbi admitting afterwards it is not his ideal position.

England Under 20s left back Imari Samuels must surely be coming into consideration, for both his undoubted talent and the fact the Albion are struggling for natural left back options.

Samuels also brings versatility. He impressed at centre back during the Summer Series in the United States and has spent much of this season playing further forward for Brighton Under 21s, allowing Jacob Slater to fill the left back role.

On the opposite side, Swedish Under 21 international Casper Nilsson is the development squad’s regular right back.

As for centre backs, Jackson is presumably seen as the most advanced having been named on the bench at Forest. Leigh Kavanagh, Ruari McConville and recent signing Noel Atom complete the central defensive options.

Midfielders
Hinshelwood is a natural midfielder, which is where he made his first Premier League start in the 6-1 defeat to Aston Villa.

The club, however, seem to be developing Hinshelwood into a player capable of covering any position across defence and midfield.

Samy Chouchane received his first call up to the senior Tunisia squad in September after some impressive performances alongside Jack Hincy.

In terms of attacking midfielders, the Albion have an abundance. With Moran and Peupion on loan, Josh Duffus has taken the opportunity to push himself into first team contention and has been named on the bench on a number of occasions.

Luca Barrington was nominated for PL2 September Player of the Month for his impressions of Jack Grealish and Jamie Mullins is another promising player signed from Bohemians, like Ferguson.

As more Under 21s either join the first team squad or are sent out on loan in January, expect increasing involvement from Under 18s player Joe Knight. He delivered an impressive cameo in the win over Celtic.

Of all the midfield options, Duffus and Barrington are probably at the top of the list to follow Hinshelwood into the senior side over the next month.

Forwards
The star turn for Brighton Under 21s this season has undoubtedly been Mark O’Mahony with 15 appearances, 13 goals, five assists and successive PL2 Player of the Month nominations.

Andy Naylor has reported for The Athletic that O’Mahony is attracting widespread loan interest ahead of the January transfer window.

But given the Albion will be without Danny Welbeck for some time and Ferguson needs to have his game time managed to avoid burnout, there is every chance O’Mahony will instead follow Ferguson’s example from last season and break into the first team at the age 0f 18.

Young winger Baker-Boaitey seems to have impressed De Zerbi. He joined the squad for the US tour and was named on the bench for both the Sheffield United and Forest games.

Marcus Ifill and new signings Louis Flower (Chelsea) and Brody Peart (Basingstoke Town) will be hoping for more game time in the second half of the season, particularly if O’Mahony moves into the senior squad and Baker-Boaitey is sent on loan.

Peter Finn