Brighton striker Aaron Connolly has been backed by Graham Potter to play a vital role for the Seagulls after recovering from a knee injury.
The 20-year-old was injured just before the Premier League was halted in March and looked set to miss the rest of the season, only for the three-month hiatus to neatly coincide with his convalescence. Now that he has undergone surgery and returned to training, though, Potter feels the young Irishman could be a vital asset to the team as they seek to avoid relegation.
The manager told The Argus: “He has come back well and worked hard after the break. The physios have done a really good job on him.
“He is looking good, he is looking fit and strong and sharp and I think he can definitely help us over nine matches. He is a young player and a sprinter so you have to be careful with his recovery times. I think he will be ready to help us, that is for sure.”
Connolly marked his full Brighton debut in style earlier in the season when he scored twice in the 3-0 win over Tottenham and enjoyed a prolonged run of appearances during the autumn, although he had been in and out of the team since December (as per TransferMarkt).
The Seagulls face Spurs’ London rivals Arsenal tomorrow and he was in the line-up that won at the Emirates Stadium six months ago, although he has made just two starts since then, with Neal Maupay’s eight goals virtually guaranteeing him a place in the first XI.
Connolly may also have been concerned to read transfer reports during the week linking the Seagulls with a potential €15m (£13.46m) move for Reims striker Boulaye Dia, as per Le10 Sport reported [via HITC].
Having just recovered from a knee injury and played only 16 minutes of Premier League football in the last five months, Connolly’s reintroduction to the Brighton team could be a gradual one.
However, with the Seagulls facing nine matches in just 37 days in a sprint finish to the season, Potter is very likely to shuffle his pack as the games come thick and fast. In the young Irishman, the manager knows he has a player capable of making a significant impact, and the need for wins in their current relegation battle could amplify by the week.
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Connolly could yet be the ace up Brighton’s sleeve in their survival fight, although he still has plenty to prove, having scored just three goals in 22 games for the club so far.
Brighton fans, do you think Connolly can have a big say in the Seagulls’ bid for Premier League survival? Comment below with your views!
