Brighton & Hove Defender Leon Balogun Returns To The Treatment Room Again

Published: January 04, 2020

Brighton & Hove defender Leon Balogun faces another spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury in his first competitive match since August 27, 2019.

The Nigeria international missed the festive programme due to illness and returned to the matchday 18 as the Seagulls were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup this evening.

Balogun played only the first half of the clash against the Owls and Brighton & Hove did not provide an explanation as to why he was replaced in their match report, saying that they reverted to a back four after the Nigerian made way for Aaron Connolly.

However, The Athletic's Brighton and Hove Albion correspondent, Andy Naylor has tweeted that the Super Eagles star was replaced because he picked up a thigh injury.

The central defender's only previous appearance this season prior to today's FA Cup tie was in the Carabao Cup at Bristol Rovers.

Due to Balogun's inactivity for Brighton, he has lost his spot in the Super Eagles starting line-up, making only two starts in the last ten matches played by the national team and was scratched from the squad that faced Brazil, Lesotho and Benin.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel