Kaoru Mitoma: Brighton star set for comeback against Liverpool after lengthy injury absence | OneFootball

Japan winger has not featured since September

The Japan forward has not appeared since September, when he came off with an ankle injury 66 minutes into the Seagulls’ 3-1 defeat of Chelsea.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler described him as being ‘very close’ to a return in early November, and the winger has finally been made available for the trip to Anfield.

The German continued, saying he hoped Mitoma could be set for a consistent run in the side.

“I think it's important to have availability, but much more important is to keep the availability.

“So having the availability for one game is good, but it has to be consistent through this period.

Karou Mitoma was injured in a win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

“It is just important to keep the availability, not only one game, so therefore we try to keep working hard for them.

“But it's a really good start, that we have this availability back and now we have to do everything we can to keep pushing through this phase of the season.”

Hurzeler will also have ex-Liverpool man James Milner available for the match, as well as Yasin Ayari and Tommy Watson.

Solly March, Adam Webster, and Stefanos Tzimas remain absent, though, leaving Hurzeler with Danny Welbeck as his only available senior striker.

Tzimas, who had only recently cracked the first-team at Brighton after arriving from FC Nurnberg in the summer, will be out for the season with a torn ACL.

“He will have surgery. We have big trust in in the doctors, and we have big trust in the medical department,” said Hurzerler.

“We are quite convinced that he will be back as quick as possible and even in better shape.”