Joao Pedro has not played since September (Picture: Getty Images)
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler expects to have Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley available again when the Seagulls face Manchester City on Saturday.
Pedro started the season impressively, with two goals in his first four Premier League appearances but suffered an injury on international duty with Brazil and then picked up an ankle problem on his return against Nottingham Forest on 22 September.
O’Riley has been out of action since his Brighton debut against Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup on 27 August, also suffering an ankle issue.
However, both the forward and the midfielder are likely to return against the champions on Sunday, while Hurzeler is still waiting on other injury news.
Lewis Dunk, Yankuba Mineth and Yasin Ayari remain doubts, but could feature this weekend, while Solly March remains out.
‘Some of them for sure will return. I think especially Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley they have a big chance,’ the German manager told a press conference on Thursday.
‘Minteh and Lewis Dunk we have to see the next days. For Solly it’s too early.’
On Ayari he added: ‘He will train today so I think he might be an option for the weekend.’
Matt O’Riley limped out of his Brighton debut in August (Picture: Getty Images)
Brighton face a Manchester City side this weekend that has last its last three matches in all competitions and is also missing some big players, most notably Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.
Asked if this is a good chance to get a result against Pep Guardiola’s team, Hurzeler said: ‘I think against every team there are opportnites, especially this season in the league it’s so equal, it’s very, very competitive, everyone can beat everyone, we see it weekend for weekend.
‘So we always see an opportunity, we always see a chance, of course we have a lot of respeoct for them because City, for me, are still the best team in the world, the best manager in the world.
‘But in the end it’s a game, we play at home, we want to continue our process and we see this as the next opportunity to challenge the establishment.’