Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi is anticipating the absence of wingers Kaoru Mitoma and Simon Adingra for a period ranging from four to six weeks, dealing another setback to his injury-plagued squad.
Mitoma sustained an ankle injury during last week's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, while Adingra suffered hamstring damage at Selhurst Park.
Both players are part of the up to 10 Seagulls players expected to miss Thursday's match against Premier League high-flyers Tottenham Hotspur.
"Tomorrow we have more or less 10 injured players, maybe eight, but (the other) two players can't start the game," revealed Brighton boss De Zerbi during a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
"Mitoma is one of them. We lost Kaoru for around six weeks—four, five, six weeks. Adingra, I think he needs four to five weeks of recovery. Tomorrow, no Mitoma, no Adingra."
Japan international Mitoma's participation in the Asian Cup, starting on January 12, is now in doubt, while Ivory Coast forward Adingra's involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations, beginning the following day, remains uncertain.
Brighton, currently an impressive ninth in the table, will also be without Ansu Fati, Tariq Lamptey, Adam Webster, Solly March, Julio Enciso, and Joel Veltman for the visit of Spurs. Midfielder Adam Lallana may only be fit for a substitute appearance.
De Zerbi acknowledges that Albion's involvement in the Europa League may have contributed to their injury problems but recognises that other Premier League managers, including Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, have faced similar challenges.
"This season, a lot of injuries were unlucky because March, Pervis Estupinan, Enciso, and Mitoma are not muscular injuries," De Zerbi stated. "We are paying maybe for playing every week three times."
The Italian added, "I would like to play with the complete squad, but Tottenham played a lot of games without seven, eight players, and I never heard Postecoglou cry. It's football, and we have to accept it.
"I think we can compete in the same way. Maybe on the bench, we do not have the same quality with a complete squad, but we have maybe more energy with the young players."
De Zerbi faced defeat twice by Spurs in his first season in English football, with Harry Kane scoring the winning goal on both occasions.
The Seagulls boss expressed admiration for the way fourth-placed Tottenham has adapted to life without all-time leading club goalscorer Kane since the England star's pre-season departure to German giants Bayern Munich.
"They play great football; their style is clear; I love their style," he said. "They have great players, and in terms of courage and personality on the pitch, they are one of the best teams at this moment in the Premier League in Europe."
