Brighton leave five high-profile players out of Conference League squad after ‘boxing style’ injury

Brighton have been forced to leave out five notable first-team players from their Conference League squad.

The Seagulls have submitted their list for this season’s league phase after advancing from the play-offs.

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Fabian Hurzeler’s side beat Tromso 4-0 on aggregate last month to reach the competition proper.

Ahead of starting their campaign in October, Brighton have omitted several high-profile players from their league phase squad.

There is no room in the 25-man roster for Kaoru Mitoma, Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer, Jack Hinshelwood and Evan Ferguson due to injury.

Whilst players can be added to the side ahead of the knockout stage, there is a limit of three new faces.

Notably, Hinshelwood was also not included in their 25-man Premier League squad as he is still only 21.

Players aged 21 and under do not need to be registered for either the Premier League or Conference League.

The academy product is currently ruled out until October with an ankle injury.

Wieffer (knee), Mitoma (hamstring) and Minteh (leg) will also be absent until after the international break.

As for Ferguson, who is recovering from an ankle injury, a return date is not yet known.

Wieffer suffers freak injury

Wieffer is the latest player to join the list of stricken Brighton stars after suffering a freak knee injury against Chelsea on Sunday.

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The right-back was forced off after being hit in the face by the ball during the defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Hurzeler explained the incident during his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of this weekend’s clash with Leeds.

He told reporters: “We expect Mats to be out until the international break. It’s a very unlucky one.

“I can explain it quite easily, because I like boxing and sometimes in boxing when somebody gets a hit, a knockout, you see how weak the legs go and the legs get in very strange positions.

“It might happen that your knee gets injured or your ankle gets twisted.

“It was a similar situation with Mats where he was hit in the face by the ball. He had control of his body, then his legs got in a strange position and therefore this injury happens.

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“Luckily it isn’t a bad one, but how it happened is very unlucky. Not a normal injury, something to do with the knee.

“He held his head, stood up and felt his knee, that is how the players explained it to me. It was a strange and unlucky one.”

Brighton in the Conference League

As a result, Wieffer will now be unable to feature for Brighton in the league phase of this season’s Conference League.

Their involvement marks only the second European campaign in the club’s 125-year history.

Brighton previously reached the last 16 of the Europa League during the 2023/24 season.

They begin their latest campaign at home to Lithuanian champions Kauno Zalgiris on October 15.

The Seagulls face trips to take on Jablonec, Getafe and Panathinaikos during the league phase.

Meanwhile, Brighton also host Universitatea Craiova of Romania and Ligue 1 giants Monaco.

Hurzeler’s side will be aiming to become the fourth English club to win the Conference League.

West Ham United, Chelsea and holders Crystal Palace have previously lifted the trophy since its inception in 2021.