Pervis Estupinan is back in contention for Brighton & Hove Albion’s visit to bottom club Southampton on Saturday.
The Ecuador international left-back has missed the last four matches with a muscle injury after he was substituted in the closing stages of the 3-1 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford in January.
Tariq Lamptey, better known as a right-back, has deputised for Estupinan in defeats at home to Everton (1-0) and at Nottingham Forest (7-0), together with back-to-back victories at the Amex Stadium against Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round (2-1) and in the Premier League (3-0).
Head coach Fabian Hurzeler said at his press conference on Friday morning for the Southampton game that Estupinan and Solly March are “an option”.
March has also been ruled out by a muscle problem since the win at Manchester United. The versatile winger made his third substitute appearance in that game since 14 months out with knee damage.
Captain Lewis Dunk is set to miss out for the second match running at Southampton with a rib injury sustained in the FA Cup victory over Chelsea. Hurzeler said: “At the moment he has a lot of pain.”
Hurzeler’s side, currently tenth in the table, are aiming for a sixth win in eight games in all competitions since launching a run of eight league games without a victory with a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton in November.
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