BRIGHTON have been dealt a hammer blow with Adam Webster’s injury worse than first feared.
The central defender damaged his ankle ligaments in the 1-1 draw at Burnley earlier this month and is now not expected to be back until April.
Adam Webster (right) is expected to be out until AprilCredit: PA:Press Association
Webster, 26, had been in fine form this season and was hopeful of an England call-up next month.
Boss Graham Potter said: “We’re looking at after the international break for his return. That’s a bit disappointing for us.
“It’s going to be a few more weeks than we thought initially.”
Brighton have been boosted by Tariq Lamptey’s expected return after a two-month lay-off for Saturday’s crunch clash at West Brom.
But Solly March’s knee injury is likely to keep him out for the whole of the season.
The wing-back, 26, said: “My aim is to be back and fully fit for pre-season at the moment.
“I hope to be outside before the end of the season.”
Brighton lie 16th in the Premier League table, just four points above the dreaded drop zone.
And key man Webster’s extended stay on the sidelines is a huge blow to Potter’s plans to keep daylight between his side at 18th-spot Fulham.
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The Seagulls lost to bitter rivals Crystal Palace thanks to a stoppage-time Christian Benteke goal on Monday, but Potter insists his charges have moved on from that crushing disappointment.
He said: “It was a bit of a process as you can imagine directly after the game, distraught is a good word.
“To lose in that manner is hard to take and it is painful, which you would expect.
“We were in the following day and as time goes on you start to reflect and focus on the positives.
“I think if you play that game ten times you will win nine, but it is just the one time we played it we lost and we have to accept that, it is football.
“But as I said the performance level was good, there was lot of positives for us. We have to go forward again another tough team who is fighting for the points.”
Brighton vs Crystal Palace as it happened
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
