Carlos Baleba Injury a Worry for Brighton Before New Season
There is a fresh worry in the Brighton midfield. A Carlos Baleba injury has ruled the influential midfielder out for “a few weeks” after he picked up an ankle problem in training, just as Fabian Hürzeler’s side build towards the new campaign.
Baleba limped out of a session in Vienna and missed the following day’s friendly against Strasbourg, which the Seagulls won 4-3 in a 120-minute run-out. Brighton immobilised his foot and ankle while awaiting a scan, and the results have sidelined him for a matter of weeks. The Argus understands the outcome was better than first feared and is being viewed as fairly positive in the circumstances, with the midfielder in good spirits and even joking with team-mates as he watched on.
What the Baleba injury means for Brighton’s midfield
In his absence, Yasin Ayari and Pascal Groß formed the engine room in the first half against Strasbourg. Malick Yalcouyé, back from loan spells at Sturm Graz and Swansea, is the closest to Baleba in profile, while Jack Hinshelwood offers another option — even if Hürzeler has tended to use him in a more advanced role. It is a reshuffle the Albion could have done without as they prepare for their return to European football in the Conference League.
There is at least some comfort for supporters: Albion do not expect a lengthy lay-off, and transfer speculation around Baleba has been far quieter this summer than the Manchester United links of a year ago. The Cameroon international now faces a race to be fit as attention turns to Saturday’s friendly with Roma at the Amex.
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