Kauro Mitoma limped out of Brighton’s draw with Crystal Palace on Thursday night and Roberto De Zerbi can only hope it is nothing serious.
The 26-year-old was forced off the field after 83 minutes at Selhurst Park, just after Danny Welbeck scored the equaliser in the game which finished 1-1.
Mitoma had gone down in an unsuccessful penalty claim shortly beforehand and it may have been then that he suffered an ankle injury which saw him leaving the stadium in a protective boot after the contest.
De Zerbi could not confirm the severity of the injury immediately after the match, but will wait to see results of tests and how the Japan international reacts in the days to come.
‘With Mitoma, I hope it won’t be a big injury for him and for us,’ said the Italian. ‘But I don’t know. We will see in the next few days.’
On the game, which saw Brighton respond to a Jordan Ayew goal shortly before the break, De Zerbi told Sky Sports: ‘I think we played in a different way in the second half, played with more energy and invention to score.
‘We concede another bad goal and we can play better and we can’t lose the ball in that way. We have to accept the policy of the club is to play with many young players.
‘With the young players, you have to give them time to make mistakes.’
Palace stay 15th in the Premier League after the draw, but Eagles boss Roy Hodgson seemed confused when asked if he felt under pressure.
‘I don’t understand — feel the pressure in what respect?’ Hodgson asked. ‘I suppose that’s football. If there is a suggestion that every time a team slides down the table a manager should feel under pressure, then I should feel under pressure.
‘But I don’t believe the players could be doing much better than they’re doing at the moment. So if that is pressure, I don’t feel it at all.’
De Zerbi’s men are back in action at home to Spurs on Thursday 28 December and he will be without Ansu Fati, Julio Enciso, Joel Veltman, Pervis Estupinan, Adam Webster, Tariq Lamptey and Solly March.
MORE : Roberto De Zerbi makes huge Arsenal claim after Brighton defeat
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
