Balogun Still Out Over Injury As Brighton Host Huddersfield

Leon Balogun will sit out Brighton and Hove Albion’s Premier League clash against Huddersfield Town on Saturday at the Amex Stadium having failed to recover from the shoulder injury which has sidelined him for the past three weeks, Completesports.com reports.

Balogun, 30, who picked up the injury in training has missed the Seagulls’ last three games – the Emirates FA Cup fifth round clash against Derby County as well as the Premier League games against Burnley and Leicester City.

He last featured for the club in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round replay against West Bromwich Albion which they won 3-1.

Brighton manager, Chris Hughton revealed during a post-match media conference on Thursday that the centre-back was not fully recovered yet and won’t be part of the team on Saturday.

“Pascal Gross will miss the game this weekend. He felt his hamstring, the good news is it’s not as bad as we first thought, but the game comes too soon. Leon Balogun will also still miss out,” Hughton stated.

Balogun who linked up with Brighton on a free transfer from German side, FSV Mainz last summer has struggled for regular playing time at the club, making eight league appearances so far with a goal to his name.

His continuous absence has cast doubt on his availability for Nigeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Seychelles and the friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt month.

By Adeboye Amosu