Evan Ferguson was left out of Brighton's squad for Friday night's game against Brentford after the Ireland midfielder sustained an injury.
It's a blow to the Ireland international, who was hoping to get the chance to stake his claim for a starting spot over the coming weeks.
The Brighton and Ireland striker looked set to capitalise on the news, confirmed ahead of Friday’s Premier League clash with Brentford, that Danny Welbeck is set for a spell on the sidelines.
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Welbeck’s ankle injury update was given by head coach Fabian Hurzeler ahead of the clash with the Bees.
The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker played through the pain barrier against Leicester on December 8, but sat out the subsequent games against Crystal Palace and West Ham.
However, it emerged shortly before kick-off that the 20-year-old was not included in the matchday squad - and sources later indicated that he had picked up an injury of his own.
The nature of the injury is currently unknown, and it is unclear whether he will be available for the upcoming matches against Aston Villa and Arsenal.
The Meath native has made two Premier League starts and 10 substitute appearances so far this season, scoring once.
Addressing Welbeck’s injury, Hurzeler said: “He played with painkillers at Leicester. We thought he would be ready for that game. He also felt ready.
“When you take painkillers the pain, of course, is not that bad, but if you don't feel as though there is a process and an improving feeling inside your body then you have to take care of your body.
"He has suffered during his career with a lot of injuries so it's very important that he has a good feeling when he steps on the pitch. He hasn't had this positive feeling, the feeling of improvement.
“You have to find the right solution for the club and for the player. You can't push him through this period with painkillers all the time.
"It's our responsibility to take care of the health of the player. That is why we had another scan.
“We tried to listen to other experts on ankle injuries and now we will try to find the right solution for Danny. He is very doubtful for the games in the rest of this year.”
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