Brajan Gruda could make his Brighton & Hove Albion debut against Tottenham at Amex Stadium on Sunday (4.30pm BST), Seagulls manager Fabian Hurzeler has said.
Germany Under-21 attacker Gruda signed for £25 million from Mainz in August but is yet to play for Hurzeler, who has guided Albion to nine points from their first six league games and the Carabao Cup fourth round.
Discussing Gruda and wideman Solly March, who has been a long-term absentee with a knee injury, Hurzeler said: “They trained very well this week. They might be an option for the weekend.”
Another day closer! 💪 @MattORiley8 💙🤍
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) October 3, 2024
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Brighton vs Tottenham injuries
“The long-term injuries are Matt O’Riley, Joao Pedro and JP [Jan-Paul van Hecke],” added Hurzeler. “James Milner is also an option for this weekend. There is positive and negative news but, in general, we see more positives that the players come back.”
Brighton suffered a comprehensive first defeat of the season at Chelsea last Saturday, where they took the lead but found their high line of defence repeatedly exposed in a 4-2 loss.
They have now gone four league games without victory, having previously drawn at home to Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town and at Arsenal.
“There were some positive things, especially in possession,” said Hurzeler, whose side were on the receiving end of four first-half Cole Palmer strikes.
Solly stepping things up on the grass! 😍 pic.twitter.com/Jgq7Ddz0ue
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) October 3, 2024
“Chelsea scored four goals and we also had the chance to score four goals. We have to learn from it, I have to learn from it.
“I was the responsible person for the match plan and the match plan wasn’t good enough. Now we will try to show a reaction.”
Spurs ‘impressive’ – Hurzeler
Tottenham earned arguably their best defeat of the campaign the following day, winning 3-0 at Manchester United in another display of manager Ange Postecoglou’s attacking approach.
“I respect him a lot,” said Hurzeler. “Not only because of how he plays, the entity of Tottenham, the style of play – it’s impressive – but also, as a person, he is very humble, very polite. I’m really looking forward to meeting him and competing against him.
“It’s very important after defeat that you are honest with yourself, you reflect on yourself: what was good, what was not good in the game.
“If you lose a game, of course, there are more negative points. We have analysed the negative points and discussed with the team about tha.”
