Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler has delivered a concerning update on the fitness of striker Danny Welbeck ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixture.
Welbeck's Back Issue Persists
The 35-year-old forward remains a major doubt for Saturday's home match against Sunderland at the Amex Stadium. Welbeck has been struggling with an ongoing back problem for several weeks, which saw him named on the bench for last weekend's 2-0 defeat away to Liverpool.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Hurzeler confirmed that while Welbeck has been able to participate in training this week, he has not made a full recovery. "It's still restricted," Hurzeler stated. "But Danny sometimes does incredible things. Let's see if he's an option to start."
The manager elaborated further on the specific nature of the issue, revealing: "He has some minor issues with his back. The issue has not healed yet and it's still restricting him during the training week."
Dunk Suspension Adds to Selection Headache
Welbeck's potential absence is compounded by a definite miss in defence. Club captain Lewis Dunk will sit out the game through suspension, dealing a significant blow to the Seagulls' backline.
Hurzeler acknowledged the importance of his skipper, saying: "He's a big, big miss definitely. But we have a strong squad, we have other players who are able to replace him. Of course Lewis is a big miss, but we also have a big confidence in our players who will replace him."
Facing His Former Club
The potential absence would be particularly poignant for Welbeck, as Saturday's opponents are his former club. The experienced striker will be eager to feature against the Black Cats if there is any possibility he can pass a late fitness test.
Brighton will be looking to return to winning ways after the setback at Anfield, while newly-promoted Sunderland will aim to cause an upset on the south coast. All eyes will be on Hurzeler's team sheet at 2pm on Saturday to see if Welbeck's name is included.
