Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler is set to recall Carlos Baleba and Yankuba Minteh to the starting lineup for the M23 derby away at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
After a taxing 120 minutes against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup last weekend, Hurzeler opted to give a few players a rest in midweek, with Baleba and Minteh, as well as striker Danny Welbeck, only starting from the bench.
That decision backfired though, as Brighton were outclassed by Aston Villa at the Amex, losing 3-0 on Wednesday night to slip to eighth in the Premier League table.
It would be no surprise to see those three players return to the side for this encounter, while Hurzeler is also starting to welcome some lesser-seen players back from injury.
Lewis Dunk made his first start in two months in midweek, while Matt O’Riley was back in the squad following a two-month absence of his own, and came on as a late substitute.
Dutch defender Joel Veltman is not quite ready just yet, but he will not be too far away, unlike fellow right-backs Tariq Lamptey and Ferdi Kadioglu, who are still sidelined with ankle and foot issues, respectively.
There was bad news for Hurzeler over the past week though, after it was revealed both Adam Webster and Georginio Rutter are set to miss the rest of the season, joining Igor and James Milner on the long-term injury list.
The form of goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen has also come under the spotlight of late, but there is no chance of him losing his place in the side at present, with backup stopper Jason Steele nursing a shoulder injury.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Hinshelwood, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Joao Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
Click here to see how Palace could line up in the derby.
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