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Carlos Baleba decision explained for Brighton at Brentford as James Milner creates history

Brentford vs Brighton in the Premier League from the Gtech Community Stadium

Midfielder Carlos Baleba was a notable absentee from Brighton's starting XI at Brentford.

The Cameroon international has struggled to find top form this season and dropped to bench for Brighton's crunch clash at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The 22-year-old started Brighton's last Premier League match at Aston Villa but lasted just 22 minutes before he was hauled off after an early booking.

Baleba then delivered a patchy display in the 3-0 FA Cup loss at Liverpool last weekend and seems to have lost the trust of head coach Fabian Hurzeler.

The German head coach is under severe pressure after just one win in the last 13 Premier League matches and this time, Hurzeler has opted for the experience of James Milner in the centre midfield role. It's a big call from Hurzeler but one that probably just about makes sense.

In starting, Milner, 40, breaks the the all-time Premier League appearance record with 654 and surpasses Gareth Barry's total.

Mats Wieffer returns

Elsewhere, Mats Wieffer returns from a toe issue and is likely to play at right back after a nine match absence.

Bart Verbruggen is back between the sticks having dropped out for the FA Cup clash and Lewis Dunk partners Jan Paul van Hecke in central defence, with Ferdi Kadioglu at left back.

Jack Hinshelwood provides the legs in central midfield alongside Milner and Diego Gomez starts on the right with Yankuba Minteh still settling for a place on the bench.

Pascal Gross plays in the No 10 role with Georginio on the bench and Japan international Kaoru Mitoma is on the left.

Danny Welbeck is up top and completes and completes a pretty experienced line-up for Brighton in what is a vital match for the club and for Hurzeler.

Confirmed XIs

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Gross, Milner, Hinshelwood, Gomez, Welbeck, Mitoma Subs: Steele, Rutter, Minteh, Baleba, Kastoulas, Boscagli, De Cuyper, Veltman, Howell.

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Hickey, Ajer, Van den Berg, Henry, Henderson, Yanelt, Ouattara, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Thiago. Subs: Valdimarson, Pinnock, Schade, Nelson, Yarmoliuk, Collins, Damsgaard, Donovan, Furo

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