Stefanos Tzimas nears first-team training return after knee injury

Stefanos Tzimas is getting closer to returning to first-team training with Brighton. According to the club's official website, the 20-year-old Greek forward could rejoin the group next week, nearly ten months after the serious knee injury he suffered in December against Aston Villa.

For now he is training with the under-21s, and head coach Fabian Hurzeler is asking for patience. He wants to take things step by step and says the player still needs training time. That is why bringing him to Manchester this week makes no sense.

Brighton have been based in Manchester since Tuesday for the games against City, part of a run of five consecutive away matches that ends on Thursday in Getafe, in matchday 3 of the Conference League. Hurzeler acknowledges the pros and cons of so much travel, but argues that staying together helps, especially for players with no family in Brighton.