Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler is expressing high confidence in the fitness and readiness of Matt O’Riley as they gear up for a crucial clash against Aston Villa on Wednesday. Following his £25 million transfer from Celtic, O’Riley has encountered a challenging start at Brighton, with only five Premier League starts to his name. An unfortunate ankle injury suffered during his debut in a Carabao Cup match against Crawley Town last August has hindered his progress in cementing a regular spot in the starting XI.
Despite these setbacks, O’Riley has been putting in solid training sessions and has left a positive impression on the coaching staff. His notable excellence in the playmaker role at Celtic has not gone unnoticed, particularly as Brighton’s £40 million record signing, Georginio, has been occupying that position. However, a recent injury to Georginio during last Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest has opened up an opportunity for O’Riley to make his mark.
Manager Hurzeler mentioned that there is a possibility Georginio could be sidelined for the remainder of the season, further highlighting the importance of O’Riley stepping up at this crucial juncture. Additionally, Hurzeler pointed out that new signing Brajan Gruda, alongside Yasin Ayari and Diego Gomez, are viable options to fill in for Georginio’s absence.
Both O’Riley and Gruda have experienced the need for patience and adaptation since their arrivals at Brighton. The German under-21 player Gruda, in particular, is still acclimatizing to the intense demands of the Premier League but showcased promise as a substitute against Forest.
Hurzeler applauded Gruda’s impactful performance in that game, emphasizing his defensive abilities, activity on the pitch, and positive influence in creating opportunities for the team. The manager expresses satisfaction with his progress so far and believes this new challenge presents a golden opportunity for Gruda to shine on the grand stage. As Brighton welcomes the potential contributions of their new signings, including the likes of Gruda and O’Riley, Hurzeler remains optimistic about their ability to enhance the team dynamic and bolster the squad’s performance for the remainder of the season.
