Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma is on the bench at Manchester Unitedplaceholder image
Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma is on the bench at Manchester United | Getty Images
Manchester United vs Brighton in the third round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford - Sunday, 4.30pm
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler made a tough call on winger Kaoru Mitoma for the FA Cup third round clash at Old Trafford.
Mitoma, 28, was in fine form in the 1-1 draw at Manchester City earlier this week and scored an excellent equaliser in the Premier League clash.
But the Japan international has struggled with an ankle injury and a brief illness this season and Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler is carefully managing his minutes as he regains peak fitness.
Mitoma is on the bench and will likely be introduced during the second half. Hurzeler made six changes in total with “cup goalkeeper” Jason Steele taking his spot between the sticks in place of Bart Verbruggen.
Defenders Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli are given the nod ahead of regular centre back pairing Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke, both of whom are on the bench. Joel Veltman returns at right back and Ferdi Kadioglu is expected to be on the left side of the defence.
Welbeck returns against his former club
Diego Gomez, Pascal Gross and Jack Hinshelwood make up the midfield, while Brajan Gruda, Georginio and Danny Welbeck provide the attacking threat.
Welbeck returns to the starting for the first time since the 2-2 draw at West Ham and will eager to score against his old club.
Brighton: Steele; Veltman Coppola Boscagli Kadioglu; Gomez Gross Hinshelwood; Gruda, Georginio, Welbeck. Subs: Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke, Watson, Kostoulas, Mitoma, Ayari, Tasker, Howell.
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