Brighton suffer major injury blow as key man suffers season-ending injury ahead of Wolves FA Cup tie

Brighton and Hove Albion have been dealt a major blow ahead of their FA Cup fifth round tie at Wolverhampton Wanderers after winger Kaoru Mitoma suffered a back injury that could end his season.

The 20-times capped Japan international has been a key component in a Seagulls side that qualified for Europe for the first time in the club’s history last season and reached the semi-final of the FA Cup before a heart-breaking penalty shoot-out defeat against Manchester United ended any thoughts of silverware.

Mitoma has continued to shine this season with three goals and six assists in 26 appearances in all competitions - but Brighton boss Roberto Di Zerbi has now confirmed Mitoma’s season could come to a premature end after he suffered a serious back injury.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the tie, the Seagulls boss said: "A bad, bad situation. I think we've lost Mitoma until the end of the season. He has a back injury, it is an important problem. I think he will be out for two or three months and two or three months finishes the season."

The injury comes just over a week after the talented winger was on the wrong end of a controversial challenge from Sheffield United defender Mason Holgate, who was shown a red card during the opening quarter of an hour of his side’s 5-0 home defeat against the Seagulls. However, De Zerbi confirmed the season-ending injury was not caused by the on-loan Everton defender.

"No no no, Mitoma suffered something with his back before the Sheffield game,” he explained. "The player of Sheffield (Holgate) has no responsibility for the injury of Kaoru.”

Di Zerbi is already without the services of Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson and is sweating on the fitness of experienced trio Joel Veltman, James Milner and Danny Welbeck. The game is likely to come too soon for Brazilian forward Joao Pedro and long-term injury victims Solly March and Jack Hinshelwood remain on the sidelines.