Fabian Hürzeler press conference provides update on James Milner, Lewis Dunk, Yankuba Minteh ahead of Saturday’s fixture against Tottenham
Fabian Hürzeler has offered an update on the availability of James Milner ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion’s encounter with Tottenham Hotspur.
The Seagulls travel to the capital dealing with a few significant selection headaches that could impact their pursuit of European football.
Brighton are heading into the clash on the back of five Premier League victories in their last six games, while Spurs are yet to secure a league victory in 2026.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that James Milner will be absent from the squad, while captain Lewis Dunk remains unavailable for the trip to North London.
The loss of Milner is a substantial setback for Hürzeler, with the 40-year-old veteran failing to recover from the “small issue” that sidelined him during the previous weekend’s action.
His absence leaves a void of experience in a fixture that marks the first home game for former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi in the Tottenham dugout.
Furthermore, Dunk’s suspension for accumulating ten bookings this season means the captain is sidelined for the second straight game, forcing a continued reliance on French defender Olivier Boscagli.
Hürzeler drops starting winger hint amid Mitoma talk
During the press conference, Hürzeler dropped a strong hint over who would start on the left wing between Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh.
While acknowledging the Japanese winger’s ability, Hürzeler implied that the Ghanaian’s strong recent showings put him higher in the pecking order.
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“We know Mitoma can change a game but Minteh has been showing some really good performances,” Hurzeler said.
Hürzeler prioritises victory over sentiment in De Zerbi duel
The narrative surrounding the fixture is dominated by the first-ever meeting between Hürzeler and the man he replaced at the Amex Stadium.
De Zerbi remains a revered figure among the Brighton faithful, having secured the club’s highest-ever league finish and a debut European campaign, but Hürzeler was adamant that personal histories would not distract from his primary objective.
Speaking at his Friday morning press conference, the German coach acknowledged the profound impact the Italian had on the South Coast club while stressing that the evolution of the team must continue.
“I think he deserves the praise because he had a huge impact here on this club,” Fabian Hürzeler noted when asked about his predecessor’s legacy.
“He had great achievements with the players. He reached Europe for the first time so he deserves this praise.”
“On the other side, when the whistle blows, it’s a game between Brighton and Tottenham and our approach is the same. We are there to achieve something, we are there to win this game.
“We are there to keep showing the right habits and therefore that’s our main focus.”
The encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium serves as a stark contrast in objectives, with Brighton surging toward the top six, while Spurs are fighting for their top-flight lives in 18th place.
