Seagulls News

Brighton Fans Can Expect Changes For Midweek Double Header – Sporting Friendly Cancelled

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Brighton and Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton has given an update on some of those members of the first-team squad that are yet to feature for him in our pre-season warmup games.

Later today we face a friendly double header as we welcome Portsmouth to the Amex Elite Performance Centre for a behind closed doors game before then heading to The Valley for a game against Charlton Athletic in the evening.

With Glenn Murray and Florin Andone having been unavailable so far this summer, Hughton gave the Official Site an update on their fitness levels and goalkeeping duo Mathew Ryan and Jason Steele.

“We’ve got two games on Tuesday – one game at the training ground in the morning and one at Charlton in the evening – Glenn will be involved in one of those games. Florin is very close, but at this moment he won’t be involved in either of the games on Tuesday. It’s just about us determining how quickly he comes back and balancing the risks involved. With any injury, what you don’t want to do is set them back.”

Hughton went on to explain that the work Andone is putting in is the equivalent of almost playing a game, but it’s in a more controlled manner so we can manage his problem and build his fitness in a more sensible way.

Mat Ryan will also feature in one of the games as he gets back to his day job following the Russian World Cup, but Steele won’t play in either. He’ll be assessed ahead of the game at the weekend against Birmingham City.

The club have also confirmed that the expected pre-season friendly against Sporting CP has now been cancelled as the side don’t feel they can fulfil the fixture as previously agreed. French Ligue 1 side FC Nantes have stepped up in their place, and we will face them at the Amex on Friday, August 3.

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