Sussex

Image source, Getty Images

While Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler accepts Joao Pedro is Albion's "key player," he insists have side have many other weapons with which to cause problems for opponents.

Hurzeler refused to rule Pedro in or out for Sunday's Premier League match against Nottingham Forest but was keen to highlight the attacker's importance to his team, having missed the draw with Ipswich last weekend.

"Every team in the Premier League has this key player that makes a difference, and in our case, it's Joao Pedro," he said. "But we also have other great players who can make the difference.

"We have [Kaoru] Mitoma, Simon [Adingra], and [Yankuba] Minteh. Danny Welbeck has already scored and we have now Georginio Rutter, [Evan] Ferguson, and young players in midfield like Carlos [Baleba] and Yasin [Ayari], that all have the ability to score.

"We have to make them score. We have to help them increase their percentage of making assists and of making goals. That's our job: to develop them and to make a team that is not only fixed on one player.

"It's very important that not only we know but also the opponent knows that we have several players with the ability to score, with the ability to make the difference."

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Midfielder and £25m summer signing Brajan Gruda is set to return to training with the squad in the next few days.

• Matt O'Riley is also in "very good shape", though unlikely to take part in the next game, while James Milner is also progressing well.

• Hurzeler said: "I'm happy that all the players are working really hard for their comeback and I'm hoping they'll be back soon."

• On Joao Pedro: "It will be easy as a coach to say we missed him, and if Joao Pedro was playing against Ipswich we would have won, but in my philosophy it's important to create chances. On top of that, every player wants to score and they don't want to miss on purpose."

• Pedro will train on Friday with the team and "see how it goes".

• Hurzeler on his side's goalscoring problem: "My solution is that we need to create some chances, attack the box with more players and change our attitude. We missed a step in not creating more chances against Ipswich and we're trying to work on that."

• He said Nottingham Forest have had an "impressive start" to the season and picks out Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga as key players.

• Hurzeler said: "We have to stop their transition moments and we have to stop their counter-pressing. It will be a challenge for us but we did it very well against Ipswich."

• On Carlos Baleba: "He's a great player and he's improving fast because he understands the ideas. But I always say he still has so much potential. Our job is to help me and provide an environment where he can improve. It's very important for youngsters to get feedback and not stagnate."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton are unbeaten so far in the Premier League this season – they have never remained without defeat in their first five games of a top-flight season, last doing so in any division in the 2015-16 Championship season.

Nottingham Forest have an equal record to their hosts, winning two and drawing two so far this season. The last time they opened a season without defeat in their first five games was in the 2018-19 season in the Championship. In the top flight, it has not happened since the 1995-96 season.

Image source, Getty Images

The issue around the footballing calendar and the demands being placed on players right now is a difficult one.

First, we need to take into consideration the really high demands on the body that go on all-year round with few breaks, especially for international footballers and those in teams competing on multiple fronts.

I know the men's and the women's games are different, but we got exposed to these issues when we went from amateur to professional. There was a lot of loading, a lot of games and the result of that was a higher risk of injury and we have seen a lot of anterior cruciate ligament injuries now in the women's game.

From the fans' side, their point is often that players get paid a lot of money but I think that is irrelevant. That is just the industry players are in and, if you take out the money, they are still human beings.

The governing bodies need to look at who they consult with about changes in the calendar such as World Cups being held in winter and summers where there is just a couple of weeks off before going straight back into it. The changes and fixtures that are put in are there to generate more money, which makes it difficult. As a business, it is about money.

We talk about mental health a lot and you wonder, where is the time to switch off and have that time away from playing? To have that family time which is a deep human need? At some point mentally, if not physically, it will take its toll.

None of us want to see players striking, but players need to be listened to. What do they need to do to make change happen?

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Newcastle are monitoring 18-year-old Norwegian forward Sindre Walle Egeli, dubbed the next Erling Haaland, with West Ham, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Brentford also interested in the £25m-rated teenager. (Daily Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, PA Media

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Carabao Cup game between Brighton and Wolves.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Kev: Another performance that highlights what we are and where we are at. We are an exciting work in progress. Lots of new faces under a young manager, with the highlight again being Carlos Baleba. He is another player off the Bloom production line who looks destined for a great career. Winning when you're still finding your new identity is very encouraging. Roberto de Zerbi who?

Hugh: There is so much talent going forward. Baleba is so composed, powerful and confident. Adingra is so gifted. Ferguson looks like he is getting back to his best. We are a bit shaky at the back, but I think that can be put down to the lack of minutes together? At least I hope so! Exciting times ahead. Hurzeler is still unbeaten and it is setting up to be a very interesting game on Sunday!

Phil: The overall passing from Brighton was amongst the worst I've seen in a long time. They gave away the ball so many times, including goalkeeper Steele who gifted Wolves their second goal with a touch that was never going to reach the Brighton defender. It was very surprising and disappointing for a Premier League side.

Peter: I thought we looked quite poor in defence to be honest and we were quite lucky to get through. We are still through though, so I suppose that's all that matters. I did think Baleba looked very good and he scored an absolute cracker. A nice cameo and goal for Ferdi too. But we have to tighten up the defence and please stop mucking about in the area!

Wolves fans

Steve: A battling performance from Wolves. Unfortunately, and as usual, it was only a battling performance and not a win. Maybe they will come good eventually - I hope it's not in the Championship next season though, but that is looking more and more likely. There doesn't seem to be much belief from the players. The talent is there, but is the belief?

Bob: O'Neil has to get rid of his obsession with playing four at the back. He needs to get the defence tight and organised. We have the cattle but no idea how to use them.

Luke: I said this team will be bottom by Christmas and it looks like I'll be proven right, unfortunately. The manager is the biggest problem.

Don: The club shouldn't have given a four-year contract to this inexperienced manager after last season's end run. It was a big mistake.

Miguel: We might be going through a period of bad results but we should look at laying the blame on the players that are being picked to play and then the manager. If I was on the board, I would suggest that the club puts O'Neil on probation for the next few matches and, if things don't improve, then start looking for a replacement. I would maybe look at Gareth Southgate.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton goalscorer Ferdi Kadioglu has been speaking to BBC Radio Sussex following the Seagulls' Carabao Cup third round win: "A very special moment for me. It was my first goal for my new club in my second match. We go into the next round so I'm very happy.

"The other two goals were very nice - mine was not so nice but it was just as important as the other goals.

"We controlled the first half very well and got 2-0 in front. They didn't create that many chances so their first goal was really not necessary. In the second half, I think it was a good game from us but, at 3-1 up, we have to control it better.

"We don't need to take so many risks in the build-up and with the ball, but we will learn from that and we have to be ready for Sunday now."

On the importance of continuing their unbeaten run: "It is very important. I don't think other teams are happy to play against Brighton [at the minute]."

On getting more minutes after returning from the injury he picked up in pre-season: "It was really frustrating for myself [to be injured]. I played 60 games last season so I'm not used to being injured.

"After the game against Ipswich, I didn't feel really well so I wasn't able to play a lot of minutes in this game - but 10 minutes and one goal is not bad!"