Brighton & Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh was notably absent from the starting lineup in their recent 1-0 home defeat against Everton, and the reason for his absence has now been revealed. The Gambian international was dropped from the starting XI after arriving late for pre-match preparations at the Amex Stadium.
The 20-year-old’s tardiness proved costly, with manager Fabian Hurzeler opting to exclude him from the starting eleven. This comes as a stark contrast to Minteh’s recent performance. Just last Sunday, he played a pivotal role in Brighton’s impressive 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, contributing both a goal and an assist.
Despite his impactful performance against Manchester United, Minteh found himself on the bench for the Everton clash. German prospect Brajan Gruda was given the nod instead, taking Minteh’s place on the right flank.
Minteh has been a valuable asset for Brighton since his £30 million move from Newcastle last summer. In 20 appearances across all competitions, he has tallied three goals and three assists, demonstrating his attacking prowess. However, this disciplinary issue has served as a reminder of the importance of punctuality and professionalism within the squad.
The Athletic FC initially reported the reason for Minteh’s absence. This incident raises questions about internal team discipline and how manager Hurzeler will handle similar situations in the future. It remains to be seen how Minteh will respond to this setback and whether he will regain his starting position in upcoming fixtures.
