Brighton’s injury picture around Yankuba Minteh is now clearer than it was when we first reported his knock against AS Roma. This update, published 17 September 2026, confirms the expected length of his absence, corrects an earlier error over his squad number, and explains how Fabian Hürzeler plans to cover the right flank in his absence. Our original report on Minteh’s injury timeline has been folded into this piece.
Update: Yankuba Minteh Sidelined Until Autumn
Minteh is expected to be out for two to three months. That points to a return somewhere between late October and early November 2026.
The Athletic and This Is Anfield first reported that timeframe shortly after the injury. Fabian Hürzeler has since confirmed the general duration, without naming an exact comeback date.
We should also correct an earlier inaccuracy from our first report. Minteh wears squad number 17 for Brighton, not the number 11 previously stated.
How Minteh Sustained Ankle Injury Against AS Roma
Minteh picked up the injury during Brighton’s match against AS Roma on 8 August 2026. The problem is an ankle and leg issue, not an unspecified knock as some early reports suggested.
The setback came at an awkward moment, just as pre-season builds towards the Premier League opener. Losing a first-team winger for two to three months forces Hürzeler to rework his attacking plans before a ball is kicked in anger this season.
Diego Gómez and Mats Wieffer Cover Right-Side Duties
According to The Argus, Diego Gómez and Mats Wieffer are set to share right-flank duties while Minteh recovers. Neither player is a natural winger, so this represents a genuine adjustment rather than a like-for-like swap.
Gómez and Wieffer are both accustomed to more central roles, which means Hürzeler will need to coach positioning and width into their game plan on that side. It also puts extra emphasis on Brighton’s attacking options under Hürzeler to compensate further forward.
A behind-closed-doors match was arranged for Thursday specifically to build up player minutes. That fixture gives the squad, including whoever fills in for Minteh, valuable game time before the season’s opening weeks intensify.
What Is Yankuba Minteh’s Position at Brighton?
Minteh plays as a right winger for Brighton. That is the direct answer to a question many supporters have been asking since the injury news broke.
His pace and directness out wide have made him a key outlet down the right, which is exactly why his absence is being felt so sharply. Losing a specialist in that role is why Hürzeler has had to turn to central midfielders rather than a straightforward replacement winger.
Nobody else in the current squad plays the position in quite the same way, which explains the makeshift solution involving Gómez and Wieffer covering that side of the pitch.
What Happens Next: Four Fixtures in Two Weeks
Brighton face a demanding run of four fixtures inside a fortnight. That schedule includes Bologna, two Conference League play-off legs against Tromso, and the Premier League opener against Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium.
Managing minutes and rotation will matter as much as team selection during that stretch. The Thursday friendly should help players who need sharpening ahead of Villa’s visit.
Brighton go into that busy period on the back of a strong recent result too, including their comeback victory over Manchester United, which will offer some encouragement as Hürzeler manages his squad through Minteh’s absence.
Expect further updates on Minteh’s recovery as Brighton move through this run of fixtures, with his return realistically pencilled in for late October or early November.
