BRIGHTON will be without wing-back Tariq Lamptey for the rest of the season.
The former Chelsea ace was instrumental for Graham Potter’s side in the early weeks of the season, grabbing assists in his first three games.
But he has been unavailable for selection since mid-December, after sustaining a hamstring injury against Fulham.
According to The Athletic, the 20-year-old underwent surgery in London on Saturday to repair a tear in the tendon.
The operation is believed to have been a success.
But while Lamptey will likely return to training before the end of the season, he isn’t expected to be fully fit in time to play another game this term.
In his absence, Brighton find themselves in a battle to survive after struggling to convert good performances into wins.
Despite their precarious position, however, Lamptey opted to commit his future to the club in January, penning a new four-year contract.
In the youngster’s absence, Potter has switched to a 4-4-2 of late, with Joel Veltman playing at right-back.
Lamptey’s injury is also a blow for England Under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd.
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The Under-21 Euros start this month, with the group stage played during the upcoming international break before the knockout phase in the summer.
Lamptey only has two caps for Boothroyd’s side to date, but would have been expected to play a big part in the finals.
The 5ft 5in star made three appearances for Chelsea last season, before making his £3million switch to Brighton.
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