Brighton vs Aston Villa team news and injury latest - as 10 players out and one doubt
The latest injury and suspension news ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa.
There’s hardly anything to separate Brighton and Aston Villa in the Premier League standings - with just two points the gap in the race for Europe - but there couldn’t be more of a contrast on the team news front.
Villa are in their strongest position for months, with just one doubt ahead of Wednesday’s trip to the south coast. Ross Barkley is finally nearing his return following several setbacks with knee and calf problems and the midfielder could potentially be named on the bench.
Unai Emery has of course had to contend with so many injury troubles this season with key players Ollie Watkins, Pau Torres, Amadou Onana, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash, Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey all spending spells on the sidelines, but the current situation is bliss.
Brighton, on the other hand, have endured the most torrid time with injuries out of any club in the Premier League this campaign. Their situation worsened against Nottingham Forest, too, as Adam Webster limped off with a hamstring problem and Georginio Rutter was seen leaving the Amex with a boot after falling awkwardly on his ankle. As if a penalty shootout defeat wasn’t painful enough.
Elsewhere, central defender Igor Julio is ruled out for the rest of the season following surgery on his hamstring, Tariq Lamptey has suffered a setback with a foot issue, £25 million summer signing Ferdi Kadioglu is still a few weeks out with an ankle injury and Solly March has a small, unnamed problem expected to keep him sidelined for another week.
Meanwhile, backup goalkeeper Jason Steele is still recovering from a shoulder problem and won’t be back until at least the start of May, veteran utility player James Milner has a similar return date with a hamstring issue, right-back Joel Veltman is progressing well to return from an ankle injury but isn’t quite ready and Mats Wieffer is ruled out with a muscular problem.
That means, in total, Brighton have 10 players definitely unavailable. Villa, meanwhile, have one doubt.
Outs: Webster, Rutter, Igor, Lamptey, Kadioglu, March, Steele, Milner, Veltman, Wieffer (BHA). Doubt: Barkley (AVL).