Luka Vuskovic has made an immediate impact for Brighton & Hove Albion, but manager Fabian Hurzeler says the club's ten other summer signings will need time to find their feet. The 19-year-old Croatian centre-back, a record £46million arrival from Tottenham Hotspur, has played every minute of the Seagulls' opening three Premier League fixtures, scoring in the 1-1 draw with Leeds United. According to a report from The New York Times, Hurzeler has emphasised the adaptation period required for a squad that sits 10th in the Premier League with four points from three games. nytimes.com first reported the story.
How has Luka Vuskovic started at Brighton?
Vuskovic has hit the ground running since his big-money move. He headed the equaliser from Maxim De Cuyper's corner against Leeds at the Amex Stadium. Since the start of last season, which he spent on loan at Hamburg, the defender has scored seven goals. That is more than any other centre-back across Europe's big five leagues in that period. His physical presence has been notable. "He has the physicality to adapt quickly to the Premier League, but we shouldn’t underestimate that he is really young," Hurzeler said. "For his age, he plays very maturely. He definitely adapts quickly."
Which other new signings are featuring?
The squad has seen significant turnover. Pascal Struijk, the only other new arrival with prior Premier League experience, came off the bench in the 93rd minute against Leeds after a pre-season injury. Deadline-day signing Chema Andres, a Spaniard from Stuttgart, was brought in specifically to replace Carlos Baleba after his move to Manchester United. Youngster Zadok Yohanna was used as a late substitute in the 4-0 win over Aston Villa. Other prospects like Matias Orozco and Rodrigo Rego have gone on loan to Castellon for the season. You can track the full squad's availability on the club's squad page.
What is the current injury situation?
Brighton's ability to integrate new players is complicated by a lengthy injury list. As of September 7, key attackers Evan Ferguson, Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh are all working their way back from long-term ankle and hamstring problems. New winger Femi Azeez missed the Leeds match with a slight injury carried over from his time at Millwall. Midfielder Jack Hinshelwood is out until October with a thigh issue, and defender Mats Wieffer is sidelined until after the international break with a knee problem. The latest injuries list shows six first-team players currently unavailable.
How will Brighton manage the fixture congestion?
The schedule is about to become intensely busy. After facing Coventry City, Brighton play Manchester United in the Carabao Cup on September 16 and then Arsenal in the league three days later. The first game after the October international break is at Sunderland on October 10. That begins a run of at least 17 matches in 71 days, including six Conference League group stage fixtures. Progress in the Carabao Cup would add more games. Hurzeler has indicated rotation will be essential. "We need to manage player availability and energy, and may field different line-ups in the Premier League and Conference League," he explained. The full upcoming schedule is available on the fixtures page.
Why do so many signings need an adaptation period?
Hurzeler provided a clear rationale for patience. "I think what we need to understand is every player adapts differently to the demands of the Premier League," the manager stated. "We have a few signings, and only one player has Premier League experience in Pascal Struijk." The club's involvement in the Conference League necessitated a deeper squad, but it means many are learning on the job. The team has scored eight goals and conceded five in the league so far, sitting five points behind leaders Manchester City. Their next test is an away trip to face Coventry City, who are 20th in the table, on September 13.
