Mitoma ruled out for six weeks
- Published
Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi has confirmed winger Kaoru Mitoma will be out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury.
The Japan international will almost definitely also miss the Asian Cup, which takes place between January 12 and February 10 in Qatar.
Mitoma was forced off towards the end of the 1-1 draw with rivals Crystal Palace on 21 December and was later pictured leaving Selhurst Park on crutches.
"We’ve lost Kaoru for around four, five or six weeks," De Zerbi said ahead of Thursday's visit of Tottenham.
"Tomorrow, we have more or less 10 injured players, maybe less, maybe eight, but two players can’t start the game."
De Zerbi also confirmed midfielder Simon Adingra, who was also forced off against Palace, is also set for a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
"I don’t know if he can play in the African Cup because of the injury," he added. "He needs four or five weeks. It’s a muscular injury."
There was some good news for De Zerbi though as Pervis Estupinan could be involved from the bench against Spurs.