Brighton predicted line-up vs. Everton: two changes made as £15m star man could return

Brighton & Hove Albion will look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they visit relegation battlers Everton on Saturday afternoon – and they have some positive news on a couple of key players as Roberto di Zerbi prepares for the game.

Brighton haven’t won in the Premier League since beating Bournemouth 3-1 on 24 September, although they did get their first ever European win against a bealeagured Ajax side last Thursday. Everton, by contrast, have won three of their last four games in all competitions and beat fellow strugglers Burnley 3-0 in the EFL Cup in midweek.

It will be some relief, then, that Pervis Estupiñán, one of the outstanding players of the first couple of months of the season, is close to a return and could even be ready to face the Toffees at Goodison Park – we’ve rounded up all of the latest team news and injury updates ahead of the match below, and done our best to predict Di Zerbi’s starting line-up, as far as that’s possible with a manager who likes to rotate his players week to week…

Goalkeeper & Defence

Ecuadorian international Estupiñán has been out for a month with a thigh injury but is back in training and close to a return, although we await Di Zerbi’s press conference to find out whether he will be able to play a part against Everton.

Fellow full-back Tariq Lamptey is in precisely the same boat, having sustained an injury around the same time – he too could well be available for Saturday’s game. Di Zerbi said that he didn’t “want to take a risk” with either defender last weekend ahead of the 1-1 draw with Fulham, but Brighton fans will be hoping for a more positive update this time around. The rest of Brighton’s defensive contingent are expected to be fully fit and available.

Midfield

Brighton will be without the services of Solly March and Julio Enciso for some time. No return date has been set for March after a serious knee injury sustained in the defeat to Manchester City, but it is not likely that he will be available until closer to the end of the season at best. Paraguayan midfielder Enciso, who picked up his own knee injury a couple of days later, will also be out for the long haul.

There is some better news on the condition of Polish international Jakub Moder, who hasn’t featured yet this season because of yet another knee problem. He’s back in full training but is still building up match fitness, and won’t be ready to start. A place on the bench is a possibility, at least.

Forwards

The only injury issue up front is with Danny Welbeck, another victim of serious injury. The former England striker tore his hamstring against City and will be out for several months, with no timetable yet provided by the club. Evan Ferguson and record signing João Pedro will compete to spearhead the attack against Everton.

Full predicted line-up vs. Everton

Steele; Igor, Dunk, Webster; Mitoma, Milner, Baleba, Adingra; Fati, Groß, Ferguson.