Although both teams are dealing with injuries, the Brighton manager appears to have a tougher challenge.
Newcastle remains without Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman, who aren’t expected back before December. However, Eddie Howe is hopeful that Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson will be available for Saturday’s match, and Lewis Miley has returned to training.
Brighton, on the other hand, is set to have defender Jan Paul van Hecke back, which is a positive for Fabian Hurzeler, though the situation up front remains uncertain.
Joao Pedro will miss the match against Newcastle.
Brighton’s manager, Fabian Hurzeler, confirmed during his pre-match press conference on Thursday morning (via *The Northern Echo*) that the former Watford striker, who had been a Newcastle target, won’t be in the squad for Saturday’s game.
There were also concerns about the fitness of Georginio Rutter, who has been in good form, but Hurzeler shared that he has recovered from the knock that kept him out of the France U21 squad after the Tottenham match. While it’s unclear if Rutter is fully ready to start, his return is a positive for Brighton.
On the Newcastle side, the status of Isak and Wilson remains uncertain, as neither appeared in the latest training gallery, leaving fans wary of a possible repeat of past injury setbacks. Eddie Howe is expected to provide more clarity during his press conference tomorrow.
Despite Joao Pedro’s absence, the return of Rutter and Van Hecke makes it less impactful for Brighton.
As for Yankuba Minteh, it’s joked that he’s bound to steal the show with a hat-trick or some unexpected feat—though realistically, Lewis Hall might be the one to keep him in check, leaving fans to wonder what could have been each time he makes a notable play in the blue and white stripes.
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