Why Zadok Yohanna was axed from Brighton’s UEFA Conference League squad

One-time Super Eagles invitee Zadok Yohanna was conspicuously absent from Brighton & Hove Albion’s UEFA Conference League 4-0 thrashing of Lithuanian giants Kauno Zalgiris on Thursday.

Although the 19-year-old has not been playing in recent weeks, what further raised eyebrows was the fact that Ivorian talent Malick Yalcouye was on the pitch – someone who was not even in the squad previously.

However, it has not been confirmed that Yohanna has been removed from the UEFA Conference League squad. They removed him and added Yalcouye. The Ivorian then went on to have a good showing against their Lithuanian visitors, as he was rated 7.6 on Sofascore.

But it is important to note that UEFA are very strict about making changes to squads during the first half/league phase of the competition. So how have Brighton been able to make this change?

Why Was Zadok Yohanna Removed?

Zadok Yohanna’s recent physical problems appear to have contributed to the decision. Since joining the Seagulls from AIK Stockholm in a deal worth €28 million, he has not enjoyed a lot of game time.

The Nigerian winger had featured against Tromsø during the Conference League qualifying play-offs but has been unavailable since that August 27 fixture. According to Brighton, he has been injured since then and has not been included in any squad – both in domestic games and continental games.

Due to this, they removed him from their squad list, a change that was effected on Thursday. In an interview, coach Fabian Hurzeler spoke about the situation, stating that Yohanna is undergoing rehabilitation and is not physically at the level that their style and quality of play demands.

“Zadok is still in rehab and still needs a little bit of time to adapt to the intensity, to the demands that we have,” Hurzeler told The Athletic.

“Some players adapt quickly, some need more time. With Zadok we want to give him time. We don’t want to rush it.

“The beginning (of the season) for him was tough. He played some minutes and he came (from Swedish club AIK) with a similar issue. It’s about being patient and building him up.

“We want to have Malick in the squad, because he is a player we can really use in every game, not matter what the situation. He is always there, he is very reliable. He definitely deserves to be in the squad.”

Yalcouyé’s inclusion gives Hürzeler another option in midfield, potentially helping the manager manage player workloads during a busy period. But for Zadok, it is a big blow for him, as he might not get a chance to play in the Conference League this season unless one of the players who is already in the squad gets injured.

How Much Of A Blow Is This For Zadok Yohanna

Losing his place in Brighton’s European squad is an interruption to Yohanna’s campaign, but it does not automatically mean the club has lost confidence in him.

He arrived in England after making an impression in Sweden, where he recorded five goals and four assists in 18 league and cup appearances.

Brighton signed him as a promising attacking prospect who still has considerable room to develop. So, adapting to a new league, a different tactical system and the physical demands of English football was always likely to take time.

The belief is that while Yohanna’s injury might not be severe, the club wants to work on him to improve his physicality and stamina. The level of football he was playing in Sweden a few months ago is nothing compared with what he is facing now, so he needs time.

The youngster’s immediate priority will be to regain full fitness and continue his development.