Pascal Gross has challenged Brighton & Hove Albion’s younger players to step up after a summer which has stripped considerable experience from Fabian Hürzeler’s squad.
The Brighton young players challenge has become particularly important following the departures of Danny Welbeck, Joel Veltman, Solly March, James Milner, Adam Webster and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Gross helped Brighton continue their pre-season preparations on Saturday, scoring from the penalty spot as Albion recovered from two goals down to beat Strasbourg 4-3 in Austria.
ReadBrighton reported on the seven-goal victory, with Gross starting the comeback before Olivier Boscagli and Eiran Cashin also scored. Ibrahim Osman later added Brighton’s fourth.
Brighton young players must replace lost experience
The bigger challenge for Gross is ensuring Brighton are ready once competitive football begins.
“A lot of players left us,” the Germany international told The Argus.
“We have a lot of young players. They have already shown they are capable of really good things.
“Now, with more game time, they need to step up and help us.”
Brighton have lost several influential dressing-room figures during one window. Welbeck completed his move to Chelsea on Saturday, while Veltman, March, Milner and Webster had already departed.
Brighton officially confirmed the departures of March, Milner and Webster earlier this summer, with chairman Tony Bloom highlighting the leadership and professionalism they provided during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
Gross now sees himself, Lewis Dunk and Jason Steele as responsible for maintaining those standards.
That role extends beyond performances. Brighton’s senior players must help an increasingly young squad understand what is required to win consistently in the Premier League.
The opportunity for Albion’s younger generation is obvious.
However, with European football also returning this season, the demand on them has increased just as quickly.
