By Adeboye Amosu:
Brighton & Hove Albion manager, Chris Hughton, has stated that Nigeria defender Leon Balogun is pushing hard to earn a regular shirt at the Premier League club, reports Completesportsnigeria. com.
Balogun, 30, linked up with the Seagulls as a free agent in May following the expiration of his contract with German side, FSV Mainz.
The big centre-back has however struggled to pin down a regular playing berth at his new club with the duo of Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk ahead of him in the pecking order.
Balogun has managed two appearances for Brighton in the Premier League this season, starting only once.
He made his Premier League debut in the matchday-two 3-2 win against Manchester United, coming on as a substitute in the 20th minute for the Injured Dunk and made his first start in the next game, 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
Hughton hinted that the club will bring in a new centre-back (Dan Burn) in January but admitted Balogun is pushing real hard to secure a spot in the side.
“Dan Burn will join in January too – we have two centre halves playing well and Leon Balogun pushing them all the way and playing for his country,” Hughton declared on Friday during his pre-match press conference ahead of Brighton’s home clash with Wolves.
The encounter against Wolves will take place at the AMEX Stadium, East Sussex on Saturdayday.
Brighton occupy 12th position in the Premier League table with 11points from nine games.