Kaoru Mitoma’s injury saga continues as fans of Brighton & Hove Albion eagerly await updates on the forward, sidelined since the club’s 3-1 victory against Chelsea on September 28, 2025. The injury, described as a “small problem” by Brighton’s head coach, Fabian Hurzeler, has nonetheless raised concerns among supporters due to the team’s reliance on Mitoma’s talent and contributions.
The incident occurred at Stamford Bridge, where Mitoma limped off after sustaining a kick to his foot, which also affected his ankle. Though Hurzeler maintains that the injury is minor, history shows that similar injuries have sidelined players for unexpectedly long durations, raising eyebrows about the actual severity of Mitoma’s condition.
As updates rolled in, it became clear that Mitoma’s recovery is being monitored closely. On October 2, eight days post-injury, Hurzeler provided a cautious but somewhat optimistic update, stating that the team was evaluating Mitoma’s condition day by day ahead of their match against Wolves.
By October 17, Mitoma returned to training but missed the 1-1 draw against Wolves. However, he remained in England while the Japanese national team played friendlies against Paraguay and Brazil. Hurzeler noted that both Mitoma and teammate Joel Veltman were back in training but still under assessment.
As the days progressed, reports on October 24 indicated that Mitoma was getting closer to returning to the squad. Following Brighton’s 2-1 win over Newcastle, there was optimism about his availability for an upcoming match against Manchester United, where Mitoma had performed well the previous season. Hurzeler expressed confidence that both he and Veltman were recovering from their respective issues.
Despite these positive signs, Brighton faced a challenging match against Manchester United on October 31, ending in a disappointing 4-2 defeat. Nonetheless, Hurzeler reassured fans that Mitoma was back on the pitch, reinforcing that the issue was minor and predicting a return before the next international break.
On November 6, another press conference noted that Mitoma was “very close to being an option,” with an interesting 50-50 chance of playing in the upcoming fixture against Crystal Palace. This comment sparked conversations about Hurzeler’s optimistic approach, suggesting a potential return might not be far off.
However, as time passed, by November 21, the uncertainty grew. Mitoma missed several games, and Hurzeler admitted it was increasingly difficult to pinpoint a specific return timeline, despite the structural integrity of Mitoma’s injury appearing intact. The focus shifted to managing his pain, with the coach assuring fans that he would return soon.
Finally, on November 27, Hurzeler offered a more hopeful outlook, hinting that both Mitoma and another key player, James, could return before Christmas, which is just a month away. This remains a positive development as Brighton fans continue to rally behind their star player, eagerly awaiting his return to the pitch.