Brighton vs Tottenham predicted line-ups: De Zerbi makes two changes as Spurs face centre-back headache

Injuries! Injuries galore! Between them, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton have enough absences in their respective dressing rooms to fill a team coach all of its own, but the two sides will be aiming to put their ongoing woes to one side when they face each other in the Premier League on Thursday evening.

With the festive footballing calendar in full swing, Spurs and Albion have had to wait longer than most to tear into their neatly-wrapped gifts this Christmas, but both sets of supporters will be desperately hoping that their patience will be rewarded with three points. A win for the Seagulls would bring to an end a barren streak of three matches in the top flight, while their visitors could make it a trio of victories on the spin and move above Aston Villa into third with three points on the south coast.

But how will both sides line up on Thursday given their depleted squads? We've taken a look at their respective team news and predicted XIs below...

Brighton Team News

Brighton have a series of injury issues all across the pitch, and will be without a number of key first team stars on Thursday night. At the back, Adam Webster is expected to be out until the end of January, as will full-back Tariq Lamptey, who is both sidelined with a thigh complaint. Pervis Estupinan, however, should be fit enough to make the match day squad. Meanwhile, it could be February before we see Joel Veltman in the blue and white stripes once more.

Elsewhere, Solly March is a long-term absentee, and Julio Enciso has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee problem that could keep him out until well after the turn of the year. Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati is also ruled out for the foreseeable future, with manager Roberto de Zerbi stating earlier this month: 'The news about Ansu is I think he needs three months from the day of injury. It is bad news for us because he was playing better; he was understanding.'

Albion's other big blow is Kaoru Mitoma, who could be out for as long as six weeks after being subbed off with an injury against Crystal Palace last Thursday. The winger is now set to be a doubt for Japan's Asian Cup campaign.

Brighton Predicted XI

Bart Verbruggen; Jack Hinshelwood, Jean Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Igor; Mahmoud Dahoud, Billy Gilmour, Simon Adingra, Pascal Groß, Joao Pedro; Danny Welbeck.

Tottenham Team News

As for Tottenham, they too have their fair share of absentees to contend with. At the back, Micky van de Ven is still sidelined with the injury he sustained during November's 4-1 defeat to Chelsea, while Argentine centre-back Cristian Romero could be out of action for as long as five weeks as a consequence of a hamstring strain. Destiny Udogie should, however, return from suspension having missed Saturday's 2-1 win over Everton.

Elsewhere, Rodrigo Bentancur is expected to miss a 'fair chunk of time', according to manager Ange Postecoglou, while summer signing James Maddison is tentatively expected to make his comeback in January. Yves Bissouma will miss the matches against Brighton, Bournemouth, and Manchester United following his second red card of the campaign, while wide man Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon, and Ivan Perisic are all ruled out.

Spurs' only other injury concern is understudy goalkeeper Alfie Whitman, who is out for the foreseeable future after undergoing ankle surgery.

Tottenham Predicted XI

Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Emerson Royal, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie; Pape Matar Sarr, Oliver Skipp, Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min; Richarlison.