Brighton have offered support to Kaoru Mitoma after the winger was involved in a car accident in Tokyo.
The Japan international was driving on Wednesday morning when his car collided with a cyclist. Mitoma’s management company said the accident happened at around 8.45am and was caused by his “failure to observe the road ahead”.
The 48-year-old cyclist went for a medical check and was diagnosed with bruising. Mitoma was unhurt and stayed at the scene to follow police instructions.
Japan Today, citing AFP, reported that Japanese media, including Kyodo News, said police suspect Mitoma may have run a red light. Local police declined to comment.
Brighton told the Sussex Express they were aware of the situation and “pleased to hear that nobody has suffered any significant injury”. The club also said they would support Mitoma if needed.
ReadBrighton recently covered how Mitoma’s hamstring injury had already put his Aston Villa fitness in doubt, with the winger facing a restricted start to pre-season.
Mitoma Fitness Remains Brighton’s Main Issue
The accident adds an unwelcome off-field concern, but Brighton’s main football issue remains Mitoma’s recovery.
He is still working back from the hamstring injury he suffered against Wolves in May. That injury ruled him out of Japan’s World Cup squad and has disrupted his summer programme.
The Sussex Express reports that Mitoma is not expected to train at full intensity during Brighton’s pre-season camp in France. It also says he looks unlikely to be fit for the Premier League opener against Aston Villa on 23 August.
That would be a blow for Brighton. Mitoma remains one of their most important attacking players when fit, especially in one-v-one situations on the left.
Brighton will hope the Tokyo incident does not create any further distraction. The immediate priority is the injured cyclist’s recovery, followed by Mitoma’s careful return to full fitness.
