Roberto De Zerbi reveals Lewis Dunk injury concern ahead of Wolves game

The Albion skipper led his side to their first win under De Zerbi on Saturday, in an impressive 4-1 victory over Graham Potter’s Chelsea on his first return to the Amex Stadium since leaving the club at the start of September.

De Zerbi confirmed that the 30-year-old was a major doubt for the game and said he would be assessed this week before next Saturday's league fixture away at Wolves.

The Italian said: “Until this morning, Lewis Dunk was more out then in. It was doubtful, he had a problem yesterday, until this morning I didn't know the first eleven. But I believe in my squad, in my team. For me, it wasn't a problem.”

The 43-year-old made a number of changes to his first XI before achieving his first win as Brighton boss, with regular first-teamers Danny Welbeck and Joel Veltman not in the matchday squad and Kaoru Mitoma handed his first league start of the season.

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De Zerbi said despite the injury setbacks, he had confidence in his whole squad to get a positive result from the game.

He said: “Dunk is not a normal player for us, same as Veltman and Danny Welbeck. I really think we can win or lose without Dunk. I think I have a big confidence in my players, but I have this confidence because I understand football.”