Kaoru Mitoma injury: Brighton winger set to miss rest of season with back problem

Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma has scored three goals and provided six assists in 26 appearances for the Seagulls this season

Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma is expected to miss the remainder of this season with a back injury.

The Japan international, 26, missed the Seagulls' 1-1 Premier League draw with Everton because of the issue.

Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi confirmed that Mitoma's season is now expected to be over.

"It's an important problem. I think two or three months, [so] finished [for] the season," said De Zerbi before Wednesday's FA Cup clash with Wolves.

"It's the back injury which kept him out against Everton."

After starring last season for the Seagulls as they qualified for the Europa League for the first time, Mitoma's campaign had already been partly disrupted by injury

At the back end of 2023, he suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of action for a month, seeing him miss the majority of Japan's Asia Cup campaign. He returned as a substitute for their final two matches before Japan were knocked out in the semi-finals by Iran.

Brighton, who are still in the Europa League and FA Cup and currently sit seventh in the Premier League table, also have other injuries with which to contend.

De Zerbi confirmed strikers Evan Ferguson and Joao Pedro will miss the fifth round FA Cup tie at Molineux while defender Joel Veltman and forward Danny Welbeck are set for late fitness tests.