Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma set to miss rest of season | OneFootball

Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma could miss the remainder of the Premier League campaign after picking up a serious back injury, Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi has revealed.

The Japanese forward was substituted late in the second half of his side’s 5-0 win over Sheffield United, an hour after being floored by a terrible tackle from Mason Holgate, for which the Blades defender saw red. Neither player has featured since.

Now, speaking ahead of his side’s FA Cup fifth round clash with Wolves, the Brighton boss has admitted that he does not expect to see Mitoma in blue and white again this season for a different reason.

“I think we lost Mitoma through injury until the end of the season. “It’s the back injury which kept him out against Everton.”

“It’s an important problem. He could be out for two or three months and his season is expected to be finished”.

The injury comes at a terrible time for Brighton, who are in European action again against Roma next month, and who currently sit seventh in the Premier League.

Five points behind eighth placed Manchester United, the south coast side are in danger of slipping out of the top half of the Premier League should their form not pick up, with just two points separating De Zerbi’s side from 10th placed Newcastle United.

In better news, Ansu Fati has been returning to action after overcoming an injury of his own, and could step into the shoes left by Mitoma. But with the Spaniard also prone to injuries, it will leave Brighton fans fearing the worst between now and the end of the season.