Brighton could welcome Georginio and Femi Azeez back into their squad for tonight’s Carabao Cup clash with Manchester United after both players were spotted in full training.
Fabian Hurzeler has been dealing with a significant injury list during the opening weeks of the season, making the potential return of two attacking options particularly welcome ahead of the trip to Old Trafford.
Georginio has missed Brighton’s previous three Premier League fixtures after suffering what was initially described as a minor problem.
The French forward started the opening league game of the campaign and impressed as Brighton recorded an emphatic 4-0 victory over Aston Villa.
However, the £40m signing subsequently missed matches against Chelsea, Leeds United and Coventry.
Georginio had been close to returning against both Leeds and Coventry before suffering a setback in his recovery. His appearance in training therefore represents an encouraging development ahead of the Manchester United game.
Femi Azeez Could Make Brighton Debut at Old Trafford
There could also be a first Brighton appearance for deadline-day signing Femi Azeez.
The Nigeria international joined from Millwall for £15m but arrived at the Amex Stadium carrying a slight strain, delaying his debut for the Seagulls.
Hurzeler previously confirmed that Azeez would be assessed this week, and his involvement in training suggests he is moving closer to being available.
If deemed fit enough, the 25-year-old could provide Brighton with another option on the right side of their attack against Manchester United.
Whether either player is ready to start remains uncertain, particularly given their recent injury problems, but simply having Georginio and Azeez available would increase Hurzeler’s options considerably.
Brighton Injury List Remains Significant
Despite the positive news surrounding Georginio and Azeez, Brighton are still without several important first-team players.
Jack Hinshelwood, Mats Wieffer, Evan Ferguson, Stefanos Tzimas, Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh remain sidelined.
That leaves Hurzeler managing his resources carefully during a demanding period in Brighton’s schedule.
The Carabao Cup provides an opportunity to progress at Old Trafford, but Brighton also have a major Premier League fixture approaching quickly.
Arsenal visit the Amex Stadium on Saturday, meaning Hurzeler will have to consider whether Georginio and Azeez are ready for immediate involvement or would benefit from a more cautious return.
Their presence back in training, however, gives Brighton a much-needed fitness boost at an important stage of the season.
Key Points
- Georginio and Femi Azeez have been spotted back in full Brighton training.
- Georginio has missed the previous three league matches after suffering an injury setback.
- Azeez could make his Brighton debut after arriving from Millwall with a slight strain.
- Six other Brighton first-team players remain sidelined through injury.
- Brighton face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup before hosting Arsenal on Saturday.
What’s Next?
Brighton travel to Old Trafford tonight for their Carabao Cup third-round meeting with Manchester United, where Hurzeler must decide whether Georginio or Azeez are fit enough to feature.
The Seagulls then have little recovery time before welcoming Premier League champions Arsenal to the Amex on Saturday, making the return of additional attacking options particularly valuable.
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