Brighton play a Premier League game for the first time in three weeks when making the trip to Burnley with the main Albion team news centred around Lewis Dunk starting a two game suspension.
The Albion captain picked up his 10th yellow card of the season when Brighton beat Liverpool 2-1 at the Amex in their most recent outing on March 21st.
Dunk is subsequently suspended for the trip to Turf Moor and the Seagulls reunion with Roberto De Zerbi at Spurs the following weekend.
What happens next appears pretty straightforward. Olivier Boscagli takes over from Dunk having barely put a foot wrong in the few matches he has started so far this season.
What Hurzeler said about Lewis Dunk suspension
Hurzeler said in his Friday morning press conference: “I always said through the whole season, the players will get their chance. They just have to make sure they are ready when the chance is there.”
“Now the opportunity is there. Lewis will be suspended for two games and that means there are opportunities for others. That is what football is about.”
“It is about working hard and accepting the role in the right moment. You need to be there and you need to use your chance. Now others will get that chance and it is about using this chance.”
With Boscagli partnering Jan Paul van Hecke at centre back, Igor Julio finds himself third choice for the next two games whilst Dunk is unavailable.
Should injury befall Boscagli or Van Hecke over the next fortnight, we may yet get to witness Igor and his chaotic brand of defending in an Albion shirt once more.
Which would be fantastic news for those Seagulls supporters who want to see a central defending trying to dribble around five opponents on the edge of his own six yard box in the 91st minute with Brighton defending a slender one-goal lead.
Hurzeler also faces two match ban
Dunk is not the only one facing a two match suspension against Burnley and Spurs. Hurzeler will also be banned from the touchline for both matches after being booked for the sixth time this season in the Liverpool win.
The suspension denies us the prospect of Hurzeler and De Zerbi combusting at each other when Brighton go to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hurzeler was relaxed over his own banishment to the stands. He was also suspended for the February trip to Brentford. The Albion ended up winning 2-0 at the Gtech Stadium to end a ghastly run of form.
“I think we have a lot of other leaders who can solve it on the pitch and beside the pitch,” said Hurzeler.
“Regarding me, we already had the situation against Brentford. My assistants and my staff made an incredible job and we won the game.”
Other Burnley v Brighton team news
There were very few other team news updates on offer from Hurzeler before Brighton headed for Burnley.
Jack Hinshelwood is managing a knee issue which saw him withdraw from England Under 21 duty for the March round of internationals.
Hinshelwood will still make the trip to Turf Moor, where his father Adam made a famous surprise debut as a 17-year-old on the opening day of the 2002-03 season.
The rest of the Albion’s international contingent have all returned fit and ready for the final two months of the season.
That includes Kaoru Mitoma, who scored the winning goal as Japan beat England 1-0 at Wembley.
Mitoma was only fit enough to come off the bench when Brighton played Liverpool. Whether he comes back into the starting XI and in place of who will be the biggest decision facing Hurzeler.
Yankuba Minteh was excellent on the left flank against the Redmen whilst Diego Gomez on the right is a firm Hurzeler favourite.
Join the new WAB WhatsApp Channel
Join our new WAB WhatsApp Channel to receive the latest Brighton news and opinion straight to your phone. Just click here and select ‘Join Community’ to get started.
Once joined, unmute the channel in the top right to receive notifications. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from WAB.
About the Author
