Hughton to field strongest Brighton team at Old Trafford in the FA Cup

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION manager Chris Hughton believes only his strongest team can pose a challenge to Manchester United in Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final and said he will resist the urge to rotate his squad for the clash at Old Trafford.

Promoted Brighton are 11th in the league with 34 points and the FA Cup represents their best shot at silverware. Hughton had rested some of his regular starters in earlier rounds, but said he would change his plans for the trip to United.

“It’s one of the toughest games we could have and in any way that we are going to win it we’ve got to put in a performance that will give us a chance,” Hughton told local daily The Argus.

“So if anything I will look to put out the strongest side that I can to get a result... I have decisions to make, but I’m also very conscious it’s Manchester United at Old Trafford.”

Midfielder Dale Stephens missed the 2-0 league defeat by Everton over the weekend with a minor knock in training, but Hughton expects him to recover in time for Saturday’s game.

Brighton come into the clash with Jose Mourinho’s men after defeating Coventry City 3-1 in the fifth round, while United defeated Huddersfield Town 2-0.

Southampton’s refusal to sell defender Virgil van Dijk in the close season had disrupted their Premier League campaign which ultimately led to manager Mauricio Pellegrino being sacked, former club captain Matt Le Tissier has said.

Southampton dismissed Pellegrino on Monday after just one victory in 17 league games under the manager.

Saturday’s 3-0 defeat by Newcastle United had left them a place and a point above the relegation zone and sealed the Argentine’s fate.

Le Tissier suggested that the turmoil surrounding Dutchman Van Dijk’s future amid interest from Liverpool and Manchester City had affected the team’s performances early in the season.

Van Dijk eventually moved to Liverpool in January for £75million, according to British media reports.

“I think that was probably something that, looking back with hindsight, the club would probably regret, trying to keep him in the summer,” said Le Tissier, who scored 209 goals for Southampton during his 16 years at the club.

“They tried to do the right thing by the fans, in terms of not selling their best player every season, but sadly that did appear to backfire, and that situation probably didn’t help the performances in the first half of the season.”