Pedro scored in the 4-1 win over Crystal Palace last weekend (Picture: Getty)
Joao Pedro will miss Brighton’s Premier League clash with Tottenham this weekend with his return date from injury unknown.
The Brazilian striker was a fitness doubt for Brighton’s derby against Crystal Palace last Saturday but played almost the full game, getting on the score sheet in the 4-1 victory.
Pedro however has now suffered a hamstring injury which will see him miss the trip to north London on Saturday afternoon.
Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi missed Friday’s press conference after undergoing dental surgery with assistant manager Andrea Maldera stepping in to deliver the bad news.
The 22-year-old could miss further games with the extent of the injury still being assessed.
‘Unfortunately he has a hamstring injury,’ Maldera said. ‘He did a scan two days ago, had another one this week. He has a problem, we don’t know how many weeks. We don’t want to take a risk.’
Pedro has scored 19 times in all competitions this season, eight of those coming in the Premier League.
Mitoma is back after Japan’s Asia Cup exit (Picture: Getty)
Kaoru Mitoma meanwhile will be involved on Saturday after returning from the Asia Cup with Japan, who crashed out at the quarter-final stage after defeat to Iran last weekend.
Brighton are yet to make a decision on whether the winger will be included in the starting XI or named among the substitutes.
‘He has travelled a lot,’ Maldera said. ‘We will make a decision tomorrow morning.’
South Korea exited the tournament after a semi-final defeat against Jordan midweek. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou hopes both Son and Yves Bissouma, also back at the club after Mali’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations, will have a role to play.
‘Obviously Biss had a bit of a longer trip but Sonny played and they had a pretty tough tournament with a lot of extra times and late finishes,’ Postecoglou said.
‘But both trained today and both are in good spirits.’
In his subsequent press conference, he added: ‘Sonny did recovery on Thursday and trained today. Biss trained, Lo Celso trained. The only ones still out are Solomon and Sessegnon. Sonny and Biss they trained well.’