Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi could reportedly miss Thursday's Premier League clash at home against Manchester United.
The 43-year-old has made a huge impact since replacing Graham Potter in the Amex Stadium dugout in September, with his Seagulls side in contention to qualify for Europe for the first time in the club's history.
De Zerbi has won 11 and drawn six of his 25 Premier League games in charge of Brighton, who currently sit eighth in the table and just four points behind fifth-placed Liverpool with two games in hand.
One of those games in hand takes place at the Amex on Thursday with Brighton playing host to top-four hopefuls Manchester United, whom the Seagulls beat 2-1 at Old Trafford back in August on the opening day of the season.
However, Brighton may have to cope without their manager on the touchline, as The Sun reports that De Zerbi is at home recovering from illness.
© Reuters
The report adds that the Italian has cancelled his pre-match press conference, which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon, but Brighton remain hopeful that he can recover in time to lead the team on Thursday.
In the absence of De Zerbi, assistant coach Andrea Maldera – who shares the same house with his Italian compatriot – is leading team training and could be tasked with taking charge of the Seagulls against Man United.
Maldera, 51, already has experience of leading Brighton on the touchline this season, stepping in on two occasions for De Zerbi who has been forced to serve two touchline bans since the turn of the year.
With De Zerbi watching on from the stands, Maldera steered Brighton to a 4-0 Premier League victory at home against West Ham United on March 4, and a 5-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Grimsby Town on March 19.
De Zerbi has a strong working relationship with Maldera, telling reporters, via The Sun, last month: "Andrea is a very important assistant for me.
"We are living together. We stay together from 8.30 (in the morning) until ten in the evening. We are like a family."
© Reuters
Brighton enter Thursday's contest with Man United on the back of an emphatic 6-0 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, with former Red Devils forward Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross and Deniz Undav all scoring a brace.
Welbeck could be handed another start in attack against his former side, as it remains to be seen whether Evan Ferguson will recover in time from an ankle injury.
Defender Joel Veltman limped off in the win over Wolves with a hamstring problem and is unlikely to feature on Thursday, while Adam Lallana (hamstring), Tariq Lamptey, Jakub Moder (both knee) and Jeremy Sarmeinto (foot) all remain in the treatment room.
Brighton are expected to make changes to their starting lineup despite thrashing Wolves last time out, with key trio Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo and Kaoru Mitoma – who were all rested against Wolves – all set to be handed recalled on Thursday.
The Seagulls will be seeking revenge against Erik ten Hag's Man United after suffering a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to the Red Devils in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley last month following a goalless draw in 120 minutes.
Oliver Thomas
