Brighton and Hove Albion enter the international break sitting 12th in the Premier League after a 1-1 draw away to Wolves. With Fabian Hürzeler’s side on nine points from their opening seven games, the pause provides a vital opportunity to reset, recover, and regain fitness before facing Newcastle United at the Amex Stadium on 18 October.
While performances have been steady, a lack of consistency in team selection has limited their progress, and injuries have played a major role.
Hürzeler himself admitted the Wolves draw was “OK, a good performance, but not a great performance,” pointing out that his players are not “machines” and need to be managed carefully across the long campaign.
Full Brighton injury list
Here is the current status of Brighton’s sidelined players heading into the break:
- Solly March (knee): A long-term absentee. The winger continues his recovery and is unlikely to feature immediately after the international break.
- Adam Webster (knee): Sustained a serious ACL injury in pre-season. He is expected to miss the majority of the campaign.
- Jack Hinshelwood (ankle): Picked up the injury against Bournemouth. Recovery is on track, with a possible return against Leeds United on 1 November.
- Joel Veltman (calf): Missed the Wolves match but could return for the Newcastle fixture on 18 October if his progress continues.
- Kaoru Mitoma (ankle): Ruled out of international duty with Japan to focus on fitness. Expected to be back against Newcastle after the break.
Hürzeler hopeful over key returns
The Brighton manager is optimistic about seeing some of his first-team regulars return quickly.
“It’s not a bad injury, so [Mitoma] won’t travel to the national team so that he can recover, and then hopefully we’ll be back after the international break.” — Fabian Hürzeler
That will come as welcome news to Brighton fans, with Mitoma’s creativity sorely missed so far this season. Similarly, Veltman’s experience at the back has been a loss, though both players are on track for the Newcastle clash.
Brighton 2025/26 snapshot
| Stat (2025/26) | Brighton |
|---|---|
| Premier League Position | 12th |
| Games Played | 7 |
| Points | 9 |
| Wins/Draws/Losses | 2 / 3 / 2 |
source: Premier League data – 4 October 2025
The numbers suggest Brighton are steady but unspectacular, with injuries preventing Hürzeler from fielding his strongest XI.
Analyst verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William believes the break has arrived at the perfect time. “Brighton’s mid-table position is solid, but the injury list has stopped them kicking on. Getting Mitoma and Veltman back immediately after the break changes the dynamic entirely. Solly March’s ongoing absence remains a blow, but Hürzeler has managed the squad sensibly.”
He added: “The Newcastle game will be a serious test, and how Brighton reintegrate their returning players could set the tone for the rest of autumn.”
Key insights
- Brighton are 12th with nine points from seven matches.
- Injuries to Solly March and Adam Webster remain long-term concerns.
- Jack Hinshelwood could return by 1 November vs Leeds.
- Joel Veltman and Kaoru Mitoma are likely back for Newcastle on 18 October.
- Fabian Hürzeler stressed his players “are not machines” and praised their belief.
What’s next for Brighton?
The Seagulls resume action on 18 October when Eddie Howe’s Newcastle visit the Amex — a fixture that could shape momentum heading into the winter months. With European commitments also looming, squad depth will be tested.
For Brighton, the international break is less about tactics and more about recovery. If Mitoma and Veltman return sharp, and Hinshelwood follows shortly after, Hürzeler could soon have a stronger set of options to steer Brighton higher up the table.
👉 Can Brighton use the international break to get key stars fit and make a push up the Premier League table?
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