Brighton & Hove Albion striker Joao Pedro has returned to first-team training and could feature in Saturday’s Premier League match against Liverpool, head coach Fabian Hurzeler said on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Brazil international has missed Brighton’s last five games in all competitions due to an ankle injury sustained during the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on September 22.

“Joao Pedro will be back in training,” Hurzeler said.

“Some players will be back on the field. We now have to see how Joao comes back after a long injury to see if he will be an option, but he is back in training.”

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Brighton captain Lewis Dunk will also be assessed after missing the team’s last two games with a calf injury, while full-back Ferdi Kadioglu could be available despite being substituted in Wednesday’s defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

Matt O’Riley, who is yet to make his Premier League debut for the club following his summer move from Celtic, is also back in training.

“We have to see how Lewis is in training,” Hurzeler said. “We also need to see Matt O’Riley – he’s back in training – and when he might be ready to be in the squad.

“I think with Ferdi Kadioglu it’s not that bad (the injury). Hopefully he will be an option on Saturday.”

Brighton is sixth in the Premier League with sixteen points from the first nine league matches.

(Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)