Brighton & Hove Albion’s Solly March and Danny Welbeck are set for significant spells on the sidelines after sustaining injuries against Manchester City.

March appeared to awkwardly bend his knee deep into stoppage time in Brighton’s 2-1 defeat by City on Saturday. The 29-year-old was taken off the pitch on a stretcher and replaced by Jan Paul van Hecke.

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Welbeck, meanwhile, had to be withdrawn in the 16th minute of that match due to a hamstring problem, with Evan Ferguson his replacement.

“Solly unfortunately is a very, very tough injury, very important injury,” head coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed on Wednesday. “We will lose him for a long time. Welbeck the same.”

March suffered a torn meniscus in February 2021 — which kept him out for the rest of that season — while playing as a left wing-back against Liverpool under former head coach Graham Potter. He has made seven Premier League appearances this season, scoring three goals and assisting once.

Brighton face Ajax in the Europa League on Thursday.

How big a blow is March’s injury for Brighton?

March will be a big miss for De Zerbi — because of his versatility, his absence will be like losing more than one player from the squad.

March has thrived on the right wing under the Italian’s guidance, adding an end product to his game with more goals and assists than ever before.

He also showed in the way he dealt with Mo Salah in the 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool that he can operate competently as a third-choice left-back in the absences of Pervis Estupinan and Tariq Lamptey.

(Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)