Man United vs Brighton FA Cup team news
Manchester United vs Brighton in the FA Cup at Old Trafford - Sunday, 4.30pm
Brighton will continue to be without their star midfielder Carlos Baleba for their FA Cup third round clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Cameroon international - who continues to be linked with a move to United - has been away on AFCON and is not back in time to face the Red Devils for the Sunday afternoon kick-off.
Baleba and Cameroon were knocked out for the tournament on Friday night as they lost 2-0 to host nation Morocco in the quarter-final. The midfielder played a key role for his country and was awarded man of the match in their round of 16 victory against South Africa.
Baleba available to face Bournemouth
Baleba is set to return to Brighton this week and all being well the 21-year-old should be available for Albion’s next Premier League match against Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium on January 19.
Baleba’s return will be a huge boost for Fabian Hurzeler’s team who are 11th in the Premier League and will hope to push for the European places in the second half of the season.
Baleba’s form was though patchy for Brighton in the first half of the campaign as speculation of move to Manchester United appeared to unsettle the former Lille man.
United tired to sign him in the summer transfer window but Brighton’s £100m plus valuation swiftly cooled interest. There has been fresh talk of United rekindling a deal for this January but Brighton chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber last week dismissed it.
The midfielder is expected to be with Brighton for this season at least and then see what happens in the summer window.
An on-form Baleba is a huge asset for Brighton but he faces stiff competition in the Albion midfield from Yasin Ayari, Jack Hinshelwood, James Milner and the recently returned Pascal Gross.
Mats Wieffer can also play in the midfield for the Seagulls, while Matt O’Riley remains on loan in Marseille.
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