Brighton playmaker declared fit to face Manchester United in Carabao Cup

Brighton and Hove Albion received a timely fitness boost ahead of Man United's Carabao Cup last 16 visit to the Amex Stadium tomorrow night.
Brighton and Hove Albion head coach Graham Potter will hope for better fortunes this time around against Manchester UnitedBrighton and Hove Albion head coach Graham Potter will hope for better fortunes this time around against Manchester United
Brighton and Hove Albion head coach Graham Potter will hope for better fortunes this time around against Manchester United

Brighton have been impressive in the previous rounds of the competition as they have seen of League One outfit Portsmouth 4-0 followed by a deserved 2-0 win at Championship team Preston.

The level increases once more as they welcome Manchester United to the Amex just days after their painful and highly-controversial 3-2 Premier League loss to Ole Gunnar Solskjær's men.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Graham Potter will be sure to rotate his squad once more for tomorrow and expects to field a similar line-up to the one at Preston, including playmaker Alexis Mac Allister who scored the second goal in the 2-0 triumph.

Alexis Mac Allister scores for Brighton at PrestonAlexis Mac Allister scores for Brighton at Preston
Alexis Mac Allister scores for Brighton at Preston

Mac Allister was also on target in the previous round against Portsmouth as his well-taken header from Alireza Jahanbakhsh's cross opened the scoring at the Amex Stadium.

His two goals in English football have both arrived in the Carabao.

"Obviously it's a very busy time," said Potter. "We made the changes in the previous two games and the guys have done really well in the previous rounds.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"A lot of them have been pushing to play, doing very well in training, very well in the games so we'll think in terms of the squad but I think it will be quite close to the Preston squad I would say with a few other options maybe

"Yes he is," said Potter when asked if Mac Allister was fit. "He was a little bit fatigued after the game against Preston and needed a couple of days to recover but he's trained this week and will be in the squad."

Potter was still smarting from Albion's Premier League loss to United where they hit the woodwork five times, had a penalty decision for them overturned by VAR and then conceded a penalty in 100th minute

Would a Carabao Cup win make up for the agony of Saturday? "I'm not sure about that," said Potter. "It was one of those experiences I don't want to have too many of to be honest.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"But it's gone now. It is what it is. We have to move forward, we want to try and progress, we want to try and do well in the game, we want to try and win just for our sake to go forward in the competition.

"We know we're playing against a good opponent. It's going to be tough but we'll try."

Jahanbakhsh, who has scored spectacular goals against Portsmouth and Preston, is expected to feature, while the likes of Dan Burn, Joel Veltman and Pascal Gross are likely to be given further opportunities to impress.

Seagulls midfielder Yves Bissouma completes a three-match ban following his red card at Newcastle on September 20.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There could also be opportunities for Albion academy youngsters Max Sanders and Haydon Roberts who both impressed at Deepdale last week.

Roberts,18, played the full 90 minutes and looked comfortable against Preston on the left side of a defensive trio and Sanders, 21, who had a successful loan at AFC Wimbledon last season, was excellent in the midfield.

Experienced goalkeeper Jason Steele has also impressed between the sticks in this competition and will hope to keep another clean sheet on Wednesday night.

"We have worked our backsides off in the two games in the Carabao Cup so far to keep clean sheets and that shows a strong mentality," said Steele.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’ve always believed that if there is a good spirit in your squad, that’s half the battle won.

"We all believe in each other and we believe in the manager and how he wants us to play. I think he believes in us as well. We’ve got all those things and I think we are a good side.”