By Tim Hodges from the Albion press conference
Albion boss Chris Hughton is hopeful that influential full back Gaetan Bong will be back in the side ahead of other long-term absentees Liam Rosenior and Uwe Hünemeier.
Hughton told Brighton and Hove News: “It’s always the case when someone comes back we try and do as much work as possible to get them to certain levels but of course it doesn’t happen instantly.”
Some people assume when someone is back they’re back but it takes a little while. Someone like Kazenga (LuaLua) who is back with us at the moment and is looking better and stronger everyday … it takes a little while especially when you have been out a long while.”
He went on to say that Bong “out of the three is likely to be back the quickest”.
Bong featured in Albion’s most successful period of the season so far, before being injured in the home match against Preston in October.
Hughton also discussed with @bhcitynews Albion’s plans for their blank Saturday next week (30 January) – the Seagulls squad will be utilising the excellent facilities at Lancing to enable the longer-term injured and those recently returned from injury to be more fully assessed.
Although the Albion boss was not totally against in theory a mid-season trip to somewhere like Dubai, he said he felt on this occasion the best option was to stay at home and perhaps also use the time more productively at a vital stage of the transfer window.
