Kaoru Mitoma injury return has been carefully managed by Brighton, with the club now in direct communication with Japan’s medical staff ahead of the winger’s international involvement.
The 27-year-old made an encouraging comeback in Brighton’s 2-1 win over Liverpool, appearing as a substitute after recovering from an ankle issue that had ruled him out of the trip to Sunderland. His sharp performance immediately eased concerns about his fitness, but attention has now shifted to how his workload is handled during the international break.
According to Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler, the club have already shared detailed updates with Japan to ensure continuity in his recovery.
Brighton coordinate closely with Japan over Mitoma fitness
Hürzeler confirmed that Brighton have been in direct contact with Japan’s medical team, outlining exactly how much Mitoma has trained and where he currently stands physically.
“We had an exchange with the Japanese medical department, so they know how much he trained in the last week. They know where he is at the moment.” — Fabian Hürzeler
The Brighton boss also stressed the shared responsibility between club and country when managing players returning from injury.
“I hope it doesn’t only count for Japan but for all the national teams, that they take care of our players because I think we give them in really good shape to them and hopefully they come back in good shape.” — Fabian Hürzeler
Based on recent matches we’ve covered, Mitoma’s return adds a different dimension to Brighton’s attack, making his availability particularly important heading into the final stretch of the season.
Kaoru Mitoma prepares for international return with Japan
Mitoma is now set to feature in upcoming friendlies against European opposition, with fixtures scheduled at Hampden Park and Wembley. These matches will offer a timely test as he builds towards a potential second World Cup appearance.
The winger has not played for Japan since early September due to his ankle injury, making this international window a key step in regaining rhythm at that level.
Speaking ahead of the fixtures, Mitoma highlighted both the competitive nature of the squad and the opportunity to measure progress.
"We want to see how well what we've been doing so far will work against European teams. We will be looking at each player's condition, individual ability, and whether they can win duels."
Mitoma’s impact for Brighton this season
Despite injury interruptions, Mitoma has remained an important figure for Brighton in the Premier League.
| Stat (2025/26 Premier League) | Kaoru Mitoma |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 20 |
| Starts | 16 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 3.27 |
| Expected Assists (xA) | 2.50 |
source: sofascore match data – 27 March 2026
The underlying numbers suggest he has been involved in promising attacking situations, even if output has not fully reflected that. His ability to stretch defences and win duels remains a key asset.
Having followed Brighton closely this season, his presence often improves their attacking balance, particularly in wide areas where directness has sometimes been lacking in his absence.
However, it remains too early to determine how much he will be used during the international fixtures, given his recent return from injury.
Key Insights
- Brighton are in direct contact with Japan over Kaoru Mitoma’s fitness
- The winger recently returned from an ankle injury against Liverpool
- He is set to feature in friendlies at Hampden Park and Wembley
- Mitoma has not played for Japan since September due to injury
- His availability is important for Brighton’s attacking structure
What’s next for Mitoma and Brighton?
Japan’s handling of Mitoma during the international break will be closely monitored by Brighton. Minutes are expected to be managed carefully as he builds match fitness.
Upon his return, Brighton will assess his condition before reintegrating him fully into the starting XI. With key fixtures approaching, maintaining his fitness will be a priority.
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