AliousBrighton leak subtle clues as Hurzeler weighs key selection twists before Brentford showdown
Brighton may well line up exactly as they did before the international break — but this time, it’s far from a straightforward call. Fabian Hurzeler has reason to consider tweaks, with two returning internationals presenting both opportunities and complications. And, intriguingly, the head coach might have revealed hints toward an additional tactical adjustment.
Diego Gomez, who has recently been operating toward the left side of the attack, spent the break with Paraguay in the United States. His outing in San Antonio — one in which he was eventually subbed — didn’t finish until roughly 2:30am UK time on Wednesday. That travel fatigue could influence Hurzeler’s thinking.
Yasin Ayari, meanwhile, picked up a minor ankle knock playing for Sweden in Switzerland last weekend. He missed the subsequent match against Slovenia, partly due to the injury but also seemingly to ensure he avoided a suspension ahead of Sweden’s World Cup qualifying play-offs. Albion benefit from that caution as well. Hurzeler has confirmed Ayari is “an option” for the Brentford fixture, though being available doesn’t guarantee he’ll be selected.
The manager also touched on Mats Wieffer’s potential return to midfield. Although the question was framed around future plans for when Carlos Baleba departs for AFCON, Hurzeler has already tested this shift — notably late on at Crystal Palace, when Joel Veltman moved to right-back. With Veltman again available and having spoken to the media in the build-up to Brentford, he could once more open the door for a Wieffer midfield role, even if not from the opening whistle.
All of this leaves the expectation of an unchanged starting XI still plausible, but with noticeably less certainty than before the Palace match. Early substitutions, too, may come sooner than they did in the Leeds game.
Projected Brighton XI:
Verbruggen; Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, Gomez; Welbeck.
Alious
