Pascal set to fly with Seagulls
BRIGHTON reckon they have a set-piece specialist to rival James WardProwse now that Pascal Gross is back on form.
Southampton star Ward-Prowse has won rave review this season for scoring three times from direct free-kicks in the Premier League already and adding two assists – stats which have helped him get into the England squad
But as Brighton prepare to try to stop him at the Amex, boss Graham Potter believes German midfielder Gross is worth a few headlines too after scoring a last-minute penalty against Liverpool last week.
He said: “Pascal’s delivery is excellent.
“Then on top of that he gives us an understanding of what we are trying to do and he has a very good variety of pass.
“He’s a team player and I would say he’s in the category of an Adam Lallana or a Danny Welbeck in terms of professionalism and what he brings to the group on the pitch.”
That professionalism has seen Gross fight back from injuries and poor form to force his way into the Brighton side, just when it seemed he was
LIKELY TEAMS
Ryan, White, Webster, Lamptey, Dunk,
Bissouma, Gross, March, Connolly,
Maupay, Welbeck SOUTHAMPT
ON: McCarthy, Walker-
Peters, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Bertrand, Ward-
Romeu, Prowse,
Armstrong, Djenepo, Walcott, Adams out of favour. The 29-year-old, signed from Ingolstadt for a bargain £3million in 2017, enjoyed a stunning first season in the Premier League when he did so well that he was even linked with a big-money move to Anfield.
He made history by scoring Brighton’s first two goals in the Premier League during a 3-1 victory over West Brom and finished the campaign with seven goals to be named Player of the Year.
Compare that to last season when he scored only twice and was often left on the bench. But the midfielder is now very much back.
Potter added: “He’s a positive person and if he is not in the team, he tries very hard to train his best and support the players on the pitch.
“That’s a really good quality to have. We’re happy with him and he’s a pleasure to work with.”
Gross has an advantage when it comes to facing Southampton because he spent three years working under Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl at Ingolstadt and the pair still keep in touch.
But there’s no doubt that Albion will also have to be wary of WardProwse and what he can bring to the party if they want to take three points.
Potter said: “You can see how dangerous he is from corners, freekicks and direct freekicks.
“He’s probably the best in the league at the moment and we’ll need to be mindful of that.”