Joao Pedro injury: Brighton manager reveals update on striker fitness before Chelsea trip

Brighton striker Joao Pedro has been ruled out of today’s trip to face Chelsea .

The striker has been struggling with a knock since the international break earlier in September and last weekend came on in the draw with Nottingham Forest only to be on the wrong end of a tough tackle from Morgan Gibbs-White.

Pedro was seen on crutches after the game, and eagle-eyed fans then spotted crutches in the background of a photo the striker posted on Instagram of him playing on his PlayStation.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler confirmed that Pedro will not be fit for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

He said: "This tackle you can see it in TV but you have to see it on the pitch, how hard it was, which dynamic it was. It was a hard tackle and Joao had some problems after the game, he still has some problems.

"We have to go week for week with him. But I don't think he will be an option for the weekend. I'm not sure how long he will be out. I think Joao is a good healer. I'm convinced he will be back soon. But of course also with this player we can't take any risks."

Brighton have a seven-day break after returning from Stamford Bridge, with Tottenham the visitors to the south coast the following Sunday before the second international break of the season puts Premier League football again on pause for two weeks.

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