Team news, injury update from Hurzeler to O’Riley, Milner and more

Turkey’s Ferdi Kadioglu could make his debut for Brighton vs Ipswich on Saturday (3pm BST), Seagulls manager Fabian Hurzeler has said in his Premier League club news.

Versatile Kadioglu joined Albion from Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce for £25 million on August 27 and did not feature in their Carabao Cup win at home to Crawley Town or draw with Arsenal in the top flight.

James Milner, who limped off at the Emirates Stadium, could be out for three weeks, while Solly March is not ready to fight as the defender continues his long-term knee recovery.

“He has good character, he has a good attitude. He’s really good.” 💙🤍

Fabian gives updates on Matt O’Riley’s recovery, Kadioglu’s involvement and international duties in his pre-Ipswich press conference. ⤵️

– Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 12, 2024

Matt O’Riley’s injury news ‘good’

Midfielder Mats Wieffer will also miss out from injury for the first time since Brighton’s opening day win over Everton, but defender Joel Veltman is available and Hurzeler had an update on midfielder Matt O’Riley, who has suffered a serious injury. ankle injury against Crawley in his first appearance following his £25m arrival from Celtic.

“He has a very good spirit,” Hurzeler said of the 23-year-old. “He has good character, he has a good attitude, so right after the operation he had a very good feeling.

“He is close to us in the training ground, he is recovering and I think he will be back very soon.”

Ferdi is focused! 🔎🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/wpP0xBF1m0

– Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 12, 2024

Premier League table: Brighton third

Brighton has collected seven points in three league games and placed third in the list of seven unbeaten teams alongside Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.

Twenty of their players represented their countries at senior or youth level during the international break, including a Netherlands debut for defender Jan Paul van Hecke and an England Under-21 bow for defender or midfielder Jack Hinshelwood.

“[It] it was good because there are many players playing,” said Hurzeler, who is unbeaten in all competitions since becoming the youngest manager in the Premier League at the age of 31 in June.

“They accumulated a lot of game time. We had many wonderful, wonderful experiences on international vacation. It was our chance to bring players back from injury, to bring back other players in our squad. You have to find the best solutions for this break. In my opinion, we used it very well.”

Our attention turns to Saturday. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/0eMmKucJte

– Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 12, 2024

Brighton results

“For me, it was time to reflect, to reevaluate the first few weeks,” added Hurzeler. “It is very important that you think about yourself, what is going well so far and where we can improve. That was the first thing I did.

“The second was to plan the next phase and next week because now we have many games in the next period.

“We have many home games so we want to use this opportunity. It was more meditation and planning. I also had a minute or two to myself.”

Brighton will host Wolves in the Carabao Cup on September 18 (7.45pm) and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on September 22 (2pm).