Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a back injury.
The 26-year-old Japanese international missed the 1-1 Premier League draw between the Seagulls and Everton due to the issue.
Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi has confirmed that Mitoma's season is likely to be over.
“This is an important issue. I think it will take a few months. [so] finished [for] It’s the season,” De Zerbi said ahead of Wednesday’s FA Cup game against Wolves.
“I missed the game against Everton due to a hip injury.''
After qualifying for the Europa League for the first time with the Seagulls last season, Mitoma's season had already been partially interrupted by injury.
At the end of 2023, he suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of action for a month and caused him to miss most of Japan's Asian Cup campaign. He returned as a substitute for Japan's final two games before they were eliminated by Iran in the semifinals.
Brighton are still in the Europa League and FA Cup and currently sit seventh in the Premier League, but have been plagued by other injuries.
De Zerbi confirmed that strikers Evan Ferguson and Joao Pedro will miss the FA Cup fifth round tie at Molineux, while defender Joel Veltman and forward Danny Welbeck will undergo a late fitness test. Ta.