Brighton manager Graham Potter has admitted that he was close to taking off Tariq Lamptey in the first half of their 0-0 draw at Leicester on Tuesday evening.
The 19-year-old was making his Seagulls debut yesterday and his performance, later described as “outstanding” by his manager, earned him the club’s man of the match award, as per @OfficialBHAFC on Twitter.
However, the youngster’s first Brighton game could easily have been an abortive and forgettable one. During the first half, he collided with James Maddison and duly suffered a nasty cut to his mouth which required stitches. Shortly afterwards, he crashed to the ground at full speed after being on the receiving end of a challenge from Wilfred Ndidi. [via Brighton & Hove Independent]
As per The Argus, Potter admitted after the match that it was “touch and go” as to whether the right-back would be able to continue or would need to be substituted.
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The decision to stick with Lamptey ultimately proved the correct one from Brighton’s management. By the end of the game, he had won 10 of his 14 duels along with making four clearances and three successful tackles. Additionally, he misplaced only four passes all evening and recorded five successful dribbles, by far the most of anyone in the Seagulls’ line-up. [via Sofascore]
Potter unsurprisingly lauded the teenager afterwards, saying: “Tariq Lamptey is a top boy. He made his debut and carried on with a massive cut. He was outstanding, a great character and good on the ball. He has a big future ahead of him. He has pace, is strong on the ball and will get better.” [as per Brighton & Hove Independent]
Lamptey could have been badly shaken by those two first half collisions but instead dusted himself down and delivered a debut performance which earned glowing recognition from many quarters.
He is the third right-back used in as many games by Potter, with Ezequiel Schelotto starting against Arsenal and Martin Montoya featuring in the pre-lockdown draw at Wolves.
Based on what the ex-Chelsea teenager produced at the King Power Stadium, the Brighton manager might not be shuffling the pack in that position for much longer.
Brighton fans, just how impressed were you by Lamptey on his debut? Did you think that he would be taken off after his early scrapes? Comment below with your views!
