Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma is facing an extended spell on the sidelines due to a back injury, with manager Roberto de Zerbi confirming that the Japan international is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Mitoma, 26, was absent from Brighton’s recent Premier League fixture against Everton due to the back issue, and De Zerbi revealed that the injury is significant enough to rule him out for approximately two to three months, effectively ending his season prematurely.
“It’s an important problem. I think two or three months, [so] finished [for] the season,” stated De Zerbi ahead of Brighton’s FA Cup clash with Wolves on Wednesday. “It’s the back injury which kept him out against Everton.”
Mitoma’s season has been marred by injury setbacks, including an ankle injury toward the end of 2023, which sidelined him for a month and limited his participation in Japan’s Asia Cup campaign.
Despite returning for the latter stages of the tournament, Japan was eliminated in the semi-finals by Iran.
Brighton, currently seventh in the Premier League and still competing in the Europa League and FA Cup, are facing additional injury concerns.
Strikers Evan Ferguson and Joao Pedro will miss the FA Cup tie against Wolves, while defender Joel Veltman and forward Danny Welbeck are undergoing late fitness assessments.
