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Premier League | Gameweek 26

Mar 4, 2023 at 3pm UK

Falmer Stadium

Brighton
4 - 0
West Ham

Mac Allister (18' pen.), Veltman (52'), Mitoma (69'), Welbeck (89')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Soucek (55'), Bowen (59'), Rice (60')

Brighton handed Solly March, Pervis Estupinan injury boost for West Ham United clash

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 03 March 2023

Brighton handed March, Estupinan injury boost for West Ham clash

Roberto De Zerbi provides a positive injury update on Brighton & Hove Albion duo Solly March and Pervis Estupinan ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with West Ham United.

Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Solly March and Pervis Estupinan are available to play in Saturday's Premier League clash at home against West Ham United.

March missed the Seagulls' 1-0 victory at Stoke City in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday night due to an unspecified problem.

Estupinan was also absent for the trip to the bet365 Stadium after sustaining a minor muscle injury in the second half of Brighton's 1-0 defeat at home to Fulham in the Premier League.

However, De Zerbi has since provided a positive update on both players ahead of Saturday's encounter with West Ham, while also confirming that Danny Welbeck is fit to feature after recovering from a calf issue.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, De Zerbi said, "Pervis and Solly are able to play tomorrow and that's good news for us. Danny Welbeck is back in very good condition. We are ready."

Brighton & Hove Albion's Pervis Estupinan in action with Fulham's Harry Wilson on February 18, 2023 © Reuters

The return of March and Estupinan in particular comes as a major boost for Brighton, with the duo establishing themselves as key players under De Zerbi this term.

March, 28, has enjoyed a rich vein of form since the World Cup break, contributing with five goals and three assists in his last 10 appearances across all competitions, and the winger has been tipped for an England call-up later this month.

Meanwhile, Estupinan has also been a standout performer for Brighton since joining the club from Villarreal last summer, with the Ecuadorian left-back registering four assists in 19 top-flight matches so far this term.

While Brighton have been boosted by the return of both March and Estupinan, they will have cope without Chelsea loanee Levi Colwill who is still recovering from a muscle injury.

"Colwill is not available," De Zerbi added. "We want to give Levi Colwill the opportunity to play with the Under-21s so he can be in the best condition possible, but he will be very important for us as we come towards the end of the season."

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi before the match on February 18, 2023 © Reuters

De Zerbi has also revealed that January addition Yasin Ayari is ruled out of Saturday's game with sickness, while Billy Gilmour (knock), Adam Lallana (muscle) and Jakub Moder (knee) all remain sidelined through injury.

De Zerbi himself will not be involved for the match against West Ham as the Brighton boss has been handed a one-game touchline ban and fined £15,000 by the FA following his red card against Fulham last month.

The Italian's assistant Andrea Maldera will take managerial duties in the dugout against the Hammers, and he is tasked with leading the Seagulls to their first league win in a month after successive games without a victory against Crystal Palace and Fulham.

Claiming maximum points on Saturday would see Brighton consolidate eighth place in the Premier League table, while they could also move to within three points of the top five if other results go their way.