GRAHAM POTTER admitted it wasn’t Neal Maupay’s “finest hour” after the Frenchman was reportedly involved in a bust-up with a team-mate.
The 24-year-old was axed for the Seagulls’ 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday after an alleged dressing room spat after the 1-1 draw with West Brom.
Neal Maupay was dropped for the clash with SpursCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Graham Potter admitted his striker’s bust-up with a team-mateCredit: PA:Press Association
Maupay missed two good chances in the first half against the Baggies, in what was a frustrating overall performance which saw tempers flare after the final whistle.
Potter has confirmed that the forward is back in contention for the Seagulls’ clash with bottom of the table Burnley on Friday evening.
He said: “Sometimes you have to make decisions that are right for the group.
“Sometimes mistakes are made and tempers are high, people are frustrated and emotional and you sort of want that really to a certain extent.
“We’re in professional sport at the highest level, and sometimes the line gets crossed and it’s about then how you react to that.
“There’s no problem with Neal. It’s something that we’ve dealt with as an incident and we sort of moved forward from it. He’s been training with the group.
“He accepts that it wasn’t his finest hour, but he’s a young man that’s going to make mistakes, like we all do and have done.
“He then takes responsibility for them and we move forward as a group and we’re stronger for it.”
Frenchman Maupay has impressed since moving to Brighton, scoring 14 goals in 45 games for the clubCredit: AP:Associated Press
Losing the former Brentford ace for a game was a major blow to the Seagulls given that he was the club’s top-scorer last-season.
He leads the way again this term, having found the net four times, taking his overall tally to 14 goals in 45 appearances since his £16 million switch from the Bees in August last year.
Potter added: “It would be nice if we could just sit here and everything is rosy and good, but that’s not my job, that’s not what I’m here for.
“My job is to try to make the right decisions for the team for the club,
“And for the individuals involved to do them with the best intentions to try to help people improve and help people get better.
“He wants to get back on the training pitch and perform as best as he can and show his qualities which he has done.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
