Brighton and Hove Albion vs Arsenal in the Premier League from the Amex Stadium - Sunday, 2pm
Brighton ace Yankuba Minteh faces a major battle to regain his starting role on the right flank.
The flying Gambian has been on the sidelines of late as Diego Gomez has impressed on the right wing. Albion boss Fabina Hurzeler also has the option of using fit-again winger Solly March, who featured for the first time in 11 months in the final stages against Nottingham Forest.
Minteh, 21, was once again an unused substitute last Sunday and will be eager for game time as Arsenal visit the Amex Stadium tonight.
The £30m signing from Newcastle has struggled with form and fitness of late and his last start for the Seagulls was back in December during the 2-2 draw at West Ham. He has four assists in total this term but his goal return has been poor, hitting the targt just once so far.
"It's about competition and the players available,” said Hurzeler ahead of the clash against league-leaders Arsenal. “Diego Gomez is doing really well on the right side. He's scoring goals. He's attacking the box.
“That's what I demand from the wingers. To create chances, to be alive at the second post, to defend together with your teammates.
“We know that Yankuba Minteh has already proved that this season, we know that he can be a very important player for us.
“He has an element we don't have anywhere else in our squad. He has a physicality that is outstanding. But now it's about him accepting the situation and understanding what he needs to do to get back.”
Hurzeler admits it’s a situation he has to manage carefully as Albion seek to maximise the potential of a player who be absolutely electric on his day.
“We are in an exchange with him, we show the players who are not starting at the moment what they need to do to get back.
“Most of the times it's quite simple. It's hard work. It's showing it in every training session. It's showing no matter how many game minutes you get – two minutes, three minutes, 20 minutes, to show that I want to get back in the team.
“‘It was the wrong decision from you gaffer to put me on the bench’.
“That's the attitude the players need to have. But it's more they have to take responsibility. They have to accept the situation like it is and try to get out of it together.”
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