Brighton & Hove Albion may receive a major lift ahead of their meeting with West Ham, with forward Georginio Rutter expected to return after missing the defeat to Aston Villa. His comeback would not only strengthen the Seagulls’ attacking combinations but could also provide unexpected help in one of the most scrutinised areas of recent weeks: set-piece defending.
Rutter has become an increasingly important figure under Fabian Hürzeler this season, offering fluid movement, link-up intelligence and pressing energy across the front line. Although he is yet to score, his three assists in 13 games highlight the creativity and disruption he brings. But Hürzeler believes Rutter’s value extends beyond open play — particularly when it comes to dealing with dead-ball situations.
Brighton have been impressively organised from set pieces for much of the campaign, shutting down renowned specialists like Arsenal, Brentford and Crystal Palace. Yet Villa exposed cracks, scoring twice from dead-ball phases in last weekend’s 3–4 defeat.
Hürzeler: “Tall players help — but it’s about behaviours, not height”
When asked by The Argus whether Rutter’s return would help Brighton defend set plays, Hürzeler welcomed the idea but clarified that structure and mindset matter more than physical size.
“Tall players always help to defend set pieces. But in the end, we can also defend it with the team we had on the pitch. It’s more about doing the right behaviours, not always about height. We speak a lot about set-piece culture.” — Fabian Hürzeler
The manager referenced Arsenal’s transformation under Mikel Arteta as an example of how long-term investment in set-piece detail pays off.
“How long did it take them to create this danger, this stability? Three, four years. We are at the beginning of that.”
Hürzeler noted that developing a dressing room that cares about set pieces is harder than fans might think:
“Set pieces are not always interesting for players… sometimes seen as boring. You need the right attitude and buy-in. These things take time.”
He expressed confidence in set-piece coach Yannick Euvrard and Brighton’s leadership group to push standards forward:
“We keep pushing it, we keep emphasising it, and we are confident we’ll drive it in the right direction.”
Set-piece culture takes time — but Rutter’s role in it is understated
In our view, Brighton’s set-piece evolution is at an embryonic stage, and Hürzeler’s comments highlight something essential: culture always precedes execution. While some fans worry after the Villa defeat, other indicators — consistent defensive structure, coaching clarity, statistical improvement — show Brighton are trending in the right direction.
Rutter, interestingly, represents the type of modern forward Hürzeler trusts: technical, high-energy, multifunctional. Although some observers may not connect him with defensive solidity, his inclusion raises Brighton’s collective floor. Height may help, but behaviours — tracking, blocking, reacting, recovering — matter more. And Rutter delivers those at a high level.
If Brighton refine their set-piece identity in the coming months, Rutter will be part of that shift, even if he isn’t the player taking the final header.
Key insights
- Rutter expected to return against West Ham after missing Villa defeat.
- Hürzeler says tall players help at set pieces but “behaviours” matter more than height.
- Brighton’s set-piece project is long-term; coach Euvrard leading the process.
- Rutter’s energy, pressing and transitional threat make him valuable defensively too.
- The forward has 0 goals and 3 assists in 897 minutes across 13 matches this season.
What’s Next?
Brighton host West Ham on Sunday, 7 December, aiming to return to their dominant defensive habits and reassert control on set pieces. Rutter is expected to rejoin the squad and is in contention to play a key role on both sides of the ball as the Seagulls look to bounce back.
👉 Does Rutter deserve to start immediately upon return, or should Hürzeler ease him back to full rhythm?
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