The Premier League does not kick off for another month and Bart Verbruggen has already provided Brighton with their first injury blow of the campaign. The Dutch goalkeeper has been ruled out for six weeks according to reports, leaving the Albion with something of a quandary over who starts between the posts in the season opener at Everton.
Verbruggen would have expected to be the man in possession of the gloves. He performed better than Jason Steele through the second half of 2023-24.
He further staked his claim to be undisputed Brighton number one at Euro 2024, where he helped the Netherlands reach the semi finals.
Verbruggen made some excellent saves. Showed impeccable handling. Looked comfortable with the ball at his feet.
He even recorded a clean sheet against France; no mean feat even if the 2022 World Cup runners up were below par throughout their time in Germany.
Injury to Verbruggen though puts the near-certainty Brighton seemingly had over their starting goalkeeper up in the air.
It will change transfer plans. Fabian Hurzeler’s approach. And it could open the door for one of the best young goalkeepers in England to stake his claim as Albion number one a season early.
Carl Rushworth
Enter the conversation, Carl Rushworth. The 23-year-old has stormed through the Football League on a series of season-long loans over the past three campaigns.
He earned rave reviews in League Two with Walsall and League One at Lincoln City. In 2023-24, Rushworth was the best goalkeeper in the Championship playing for Swansea City.
Long earmarked as a future Premier League goalkeeper, Rushworth even attracted scouts from Barcelona to watch him play for Worthing earlier in his career.
There cannot have been many occasions the staff of La Masia have rocked up at Woodside Road for an Isthmian League Premier Division game.
Rushworth next two years seemed pretty straightforward. A Premier League or top flight European loan this season, followed by coming into the Brighton first team squad for 2025-26.
And if Verbruggen played well enough across the upcoming the campaign to earn a big money move next summer, Rushworth would have found himself seamlessly taking over as number one.
The difficult question the Albion now face is whether to abandon any plans they had for loaning out Rushworth because of the injury to Verbruggen.
Games Verbruggen will miss through injury
With the trip to Goodison Park four weeks away, a six week spell on the side lines will see Verbruggen miss two Premier League matches.
Presuming the timeline for his return is correct, he would be absent for Everton and the visit of Manchester United to the Amex. But that is a pretty big presumption to make.
Brighton have overhauled their medical team for 2024-25 on account of it feeling like Harold Shipman was working in the treatment room at times during the previous campaign.
Even with new heads of medicine and performance, the Albion’s record with players taking much longer to recover from long-term injuries should mean taking that six week recovery with a pinch of salt.
Kaoru Mitoma went from ruled out against Everton with a slight back niggle in February to not playing again for three months.
What if the same happens with Verbruggen? What if the Albion opt to send Rushworth out on loan based on Verbruggen missing just two games, only for Verbruggen to miss another six weeks?
The first eight games of the Fabian Hurzeler era looked difficult enough. As much as WAB loves Jason Steele, even we have to admit they would become trickier still with Singing Hills’ favourite golfer between the posts.
What should Brighton do with Rushworth?
Further disaster besetting Verbruggen makes a strong case for Brighton not sending Rushworth out on loan.
The flip side to that argument is what if Verbruggen is back after two matches? Rushworth could then end up spending an entire season sat on the bench when he could have been gaining top flight experience, potentially stalling his development.
There is a middle way. Transfer deadline day is August 30th, six days after United visit the Amex and at the exact point Verbruggen is expected to be fit again.
Rushworth could start for the Albion against Everton and the Red Devils. He could then be loaned out in that short six-day window between the United game deadline day, presuming Verbruggen’s return goes to plan.
If Verbruggen ends up being a Mitoma, a Joao Pedro, an Ansu Fati, a Tariq Lamptey or a repeat of any other player who spent far longer injured than their initial diagnosis, then Rushworth stays and gets his chance to prove himself as number one a season ahead of schedule.
Playing Rushworth in two matches, leaving a decision on his future as late as possible and then trying to loan him out inside of six days if necessary is admittedly a pretty bold plan.
Most clubs will want their starting goalkeeper training and playing friendlies before the competitive action starts. Not a rushed deal signed two weeks into the campaign.
But if Rushworth is as good as we are told, perhaps there will be a team willing to make an exception.
What we do know is that the opening 10 games are going to be crucial in terms of setting the tone for how Hurzeler does as Brighton manager.
Make a poor start and the vultures will be out. Questions about Hurzeler’s age and lack of experience will be everywhere. Tony Bloom obviously will not panic, but that won’t stop fans and the media.
Injury to Verbruggen creates an unwanted complication. Brighton need to get the goalkeeper situation right. Especially after last season’s rotation caused so many problems.
