Brighton Hit Hard as Joao Pedro Suffers Fresh Ankle Injury Blow

Brighton & Hove Albion have been dealt a significant blow with the news that star forward Joao Pedro has suffered an ankle injury during training. Manager Fabian Hurzeler has confirmed that Pedro is sidelined indefinitely, awaiting results from an MRI scan.

The 23-year-old Brazilian has been a crucial player for Brighton this season, scoring five Premier League goals, including a decisive equalizer in their recent 1-1 draw against Arsenal. Unfortunately, this new injury echoes a similar ankle issue that kept him out of action earlier in the season.

Brighton is set to face Norwich City in the FA Cup on Saturday, but Hurzeler has ruled Pedro out of contention. “I would love to have him on the pitch for the FA Cup, but he twisted his ankle in training yesterday. We’ll have to wait for the MRI for any clear results,” said the Seagulls boss.

This setback comes at a challenging time for Hurzeler, who is navigating an eight-match winless streak, with six of those games ending in draws. Injury troubles continue to plague the squad, with several key players also unavailable for the Norwich fixture.

Among them is veteran forward Danny Welbeck, who has been sidelined since December 8 due to his own ankle problem. However, Hurzeler remains optimistic about Welbeck’s potential return. “We’ll have to see about Danny tomorrow—he might be part of the group,” he revealed.

Unfortunately, other absentees include Mats Wieffer, Joao Pedro, and captain Lewis Dunk. Hurzeler also confirmed that Ferdi Kadioglu and James Milner remain unavailable until next month.

Despite these challenges, the Brighton manager is confident in his team’s ability to compete. “We have some issues, but I’m confident the squad will still be strong enough to compete and win,” said Hurzeler.

Looking ahead, Brighton will return to Premier League action on January 16, when Welbeck is expected to be fully fit. Pedro’s recovery timeline, however, remains uncertain.

Hurzeler, under pressure to end Brighton’s winless streak, emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong process and philosophy. “Winning builds confidence and creates a better atmosphere,” he explained.

“If we stick to our philosophy and work hard, the results will follow. Chasing results without a clear structure or identity can cause long-term problems.”

The Seagulls will hope to find their form soon, starting with a much-needed victory in their FA Cup clash against Norwich.