Brighton & Hove Albion's Danny Welbeck has doubts about Wolves' game

Brighton & Hove Albion will make a late decision on top scorer Danny Welbeck for Saturday's home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The former Manchester United, Arsenal and England striker suffered a lower back injury during last Saturday's 1-0 win at Newcastle United and had to be stretchered off.

When asked about the 33-year-old striker at his press conference on Thursday morning, Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler said: “It's still early to say whether he can play or not, he will train today and we'll see after that.”

“He got hit on the nerve and then you can’t feel your leg for a while. It's very painful and it still hurts. He needs a lot of treatment. Our physios work with him every hour.”

Welbeck was sent off in the 81st minute of Brighton's win at St James' Park after taking a hit in an aerial attack with Newcastle defender Fabian Schar.

He received lengthy treatment on the field and required oxygen to ease his breathing. However, on Saturday evening he accompanied his teammates on the flight home after being examined in the emergency department at Newcastle Royal Infirmary.

Welbeck secured the points in the first half with his fifth goal in eight Premier League games.

Elsewhere, Joao Pedro is still out with an ankle injury and Evan Ferguson, making his first league start of the season at Newcastle, is not yet fully fit after undergoing ankle surgery in April.

Winger Yankuba Minteh is also questionable for Wolves after suffering a minor muscle injury on international duty with Gambia which ruled him out against his former club Newcastle, but Simon Adingra is back in contention for a place in the squad after missing the last three games.

Brighton, fifth in the table, will overtake Arsenal if they beat bottom side Wolves. Arsenal host Liverpool on Sunday.

Next week Brighton face a double-header with Liverpool in the Carabao Cup round of 16 at the Amex and three days later in the Premier League at Anfield.

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