Joao Pedro Misses Brighton’s Trip to Tottenham Due to Training Dispute

Brighton & Hove Albion will be without their co-top scorer Joao Pedro for the match against Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday. Manager Fabian Hurzeler has confirmed that the Brazilian striker has been omitted from the squad due to a “minor issue during training”.

Pedro, who shares the honour of leading goal-scorer with Danny Welbeck, having netted 10 times in the league this season, was also absent from Monday’s thrilling 3-2 victory over reigning champions Liverpool. A report from The Athletic has suggested that the 23-year-old’s omission stems from an incident with a teammate in training.

“With Joao, we encountered a minor issue in training, a situation that isn’t unusual in any football club from time to time. We’ve addressed it internally, and the matter has been resolved,” Hurzeler informed reporters on Friday.

“Joao is an outstanding footballer. He can be a match-winner for us, which is why we made an investment in him. However, there are principles and values here… and they are non-negotiable.

“Joao is still quite young, with plenty of potential for growth. I believe he will learn from this experience and return stronger next season.”

Pedro’s last appearance for Brighton was on April 19, when he was dismissed for striking Brentford defender Nathan Collins in the face during a 4-2 defeat, resulting in a three-match suspension for violent conduct.

With Brentford, currently ninth, sitting three points behind Brighton, a draw at Spurs would secure an eighth-place finish for Hurzeler’s squad, potentially qualifying them for the UEFA Conference League next season, depending on other results.