Brighton & Hove Albion could be without as many as seven players for Friday's Premier League clash with Southampton at the Amex Stadium.
Carlos Baleba was sent off for two bookable offenses in the Seagulls' 2-1 win at Bournemouth last weekend and is now suspended, while James Milner (thigh) and Solly March (knee) both remain sidelined with injuries.
Friday's game is also set to come too soon for Jack Hinshelwood (knee) and Adam Webster (thigh), while both Ferdi Kadioglu (toe) and Yankuba Minteh (muscle) are doubtful, but Lewis Dunk and Tariq Lamptey are fit to return to Fabian Hurzeler's matchday squad after recovering from calf problems.
It remains to be seen whether either captain Dunk or Lamptey will be fit enough to start, though, so Jan Paul van Hecke and Igor Julio could continue at centre-back, while Joel Veltman and Pervis Estupinan are the most likely duo to operate as full-backs.
The absent Baleba and uncertainty over the fitness of Hinshelwood could see summer signing Matt O'Riley handed his first Premier League start in the middle of the pitch alongside either Yasin Ayari or Mats Wieffer.
Joao Pedro scored on his first start since August against Bournemouth and is expected to continue in an advanced role in behind central striker Danny Welbeck, while Kaoru Mitoma - who also scored last time out - and Georginio Rutter could both be deployed out wide, although Simon Adingra will push the latter for a start on the right.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup: Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Wieffer, O'Riley; Rutter, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
> Click here to see how Southampton could line up for this contest
Oliver Thomas
