NafisaBrighton Boss Clears the Air on Diego Gomez’s Early Exit – Midfielder Expected Back After Health Scare
Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hürzeler has offered a calm explanation for Diego Gomez’s brief second-half appearance during the club’s 2-0 pre-season victory over Coventry City.
The Paraguayan midfielder was brought on as a substitute at halftime in the behind-closed-doors match held at the club’s training ground in Lancing. However, his time on the pitch was short-lived, as he was withdrawn less than 20 minutes later during a wave of tactical changes.
Addressing concerns surrounding Gomez’s premature exit, Hürzeler confirmed that the substitution was due to illness and not injury, adding that the 21-year-old is expected to return to training by Monday.
The Seagulls were without several other key players during the fixture. Veteran striker Danny Welbeck sat out, as did Carlos Baleba, who also missed the previous friendly against UD Las Palmas. Despite these absences, the outing featured a notable positive: a welcome return for Ferdi Kadioglu. The versatile fullback made his first appearance since undergoing toe surgery last October.
Reflecting on the match, Hürzeler remarked, “It was a solid workout and continues our build-up nicely. A few players are managing minor issues, but overall, it was encouraging to see those who featured come through unscathed.”
He also provided an update on the squad’s injury status, noting that nearly all sidelined players, apart from Adam Webster and Solly March—who remains several weeks from full training—should be available within the coming week.
Brighton’s pre-season preparations will continue next Saturday with a friendly against Southampton at St Mary’s. The encounter will serve as a key test for both sides, with Saints aiming to impress their fans under new manager Will Still just a week before the Championship kicks off with their home fixture against Wrexham.
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