Brighton and Hove Albion are checking on Pascal Struijk after the defender suffered a hamstring scare during his first Premier League start for the club against Arsenal.
The Dutchman was withdrawn late in the game after pulling up and holding his thigh, prompting immediate concern from the home bench at the Amex.
Pascal Struijk Undergoes Medical Checks Following Arsenal Injury Scare
Struijk had been handed his full Premier League debut for Brighton in the fixture against Arsenal, a significant moment in his early spell on the south coast.
The club’s medical staff will assess the 26-year-old over the coming days. Brighton have not yet offered a firm diagnosis, and head coach Fabian Hurzeler was careful to stress that the situation remains unclear until further checks are completed.
Fabian Hurzeler Confirms Hamstring Issue and Provides Lewis Dunk Update
Speaking after the game, Hurzeler confirmed that Struijk had felt discomfort in his hamstring but declined to speculate further.
“I think he felt a little bit with his hamstring. I hope it’s nothing bad, but then we have to see how he represents,” he said.
The head coach also addressed the absence of captain Lewis Dunk, who missed out on the matchday squad entirely.
Dunk sustained a minor issue in training on Friday and was not risked against Arsenal. “Lewis had a small issue in training with his with his neck. Nothing major,” Hurzeler explained.
Dunk watched the match from the stands rather than the bench, taking his seat in the West Lower alongside winger Kaoru Mitoma.
Neither player featured for Brighton on the day, leaving Hurzeler to manage his back line without two senior defensive options.
Action-Packed Premier League Debut Ends Early for Dutch Defender
Struijk’s afternoon was eventful long before his eventual withdrawal.
The defender was involved in a heavy collision when he contested a corner with Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, taking a blow to the head in the aerial challenge. He required brief treatment from Brighton’s medical team before being cleared to continue.
Shortly after returning to the pitch, Struijk was shown a yellow card, adding further jeopardy to what had already become a testing introduction to Premier League duty with the Seagulls.
The booking meant he had to manage the remainder of the contest with extra caution against a sharp Arsenal attack.
His debut ultimately ended prematurely when he pulled up holding his thigh and signalled to the bench.
Hurzeler had little choice but to make the change, and Michael Svoboda was sent on to replace him for the closing stages.
Upcoming Fixture Timeline and Defensive Selection Options
Brighton’s medical team will now monitor Struijk closely in the build-up to the club’s next competitive fixture, a Premier League trip involving Sunderland on October 10.
No recovery timeline has been given, and the club will wait for further assessment before making any decisions on his availability.
Dunk’s neck issue was described as minor, though Hurzeler has not confirmed whether the captain will be fit to return for that game either.
With both senior centre backs facing uncertainty, Svoboda’s performance after coming on against Arsenal could carry added significance for team selection in the coming weeks.
Brighton supporters can revisit how Hurzeler set up his side for the visit of Arsenal via the confirmed matchday squad selection against Arsenal, while further context on the head coach’s thinking beforehand is available in our pre-match squad news at the Amex.
Hurzeler’s full post-match comments were first reported in The Argus report.
