Brighton star spotted on crutches ahead of Tottenham clash

Tottenham Hotspur may face a different prospect when they face Brighton & Hove Albion on December 28. And it may be a simpler proposition than they anticipated.

Spurs face Everton in their first festive fixture on Saturday, with the usual Boxing Day clash moved to December 28 when they travel to the south coast to face Brighton.

This two-day delay may aid the Seagulls in the recovery of any injured players, with one more added to the treatment table on Thursday night. Brighton drew 1-1 with bitter rivals Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, but one of their stars was forced to leave early.

Kaoru Mitoma has been a revelation since joining the Premier League in 2022, following a year on loan with Union SG in the Belgian League.

The Japan international had 10 goals and eight assists for the Seagulls in 2022/23, and he already has three goals and six assists this season. Without a doubt, he is one of Brighton’s standout players.

But he could be absent against Tottenham. The forward hobbled off the pitch seven minutes from time in the draw in south London, and he was seen leaving the stadium on crutches and with a protective boot on his left foot, causing concern among Brighton fans.

Mitoma is already scheduled to miss the Asian Cup with Japan in January, but missing any more games for the Seagulls will be a concern for head coach Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian was asked about Mitoma immediately after the game, but he couldn’t provide much information about his injury.

“With Mitoma, I hope it’s not a major injury for him or for us,” he said. But I’m not sure. We’ll see.”