Tariq Lamptey’s future at Brighton & Hove Albion is currently about as unclear as when Fabian Hurzeler’s team will finally end their winless run.
Lamptey earned a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Monday evening with an 81st minute equaliser. There was no doubting the clinical nature of his strike, but whether it has any impact on the length of the diminutive right-back’s stay at the club is another matter.
Hurzeler was giving nothing away following his side’s fourth deadlock of a sequence which has stretched to seven matches without a victory. He told The Athletic: “It’s important that the player knows our perspective and that we know the player’s perspective. It’s very important that we keep it internal, that we don’t talk too much about the situation in public. Then, when we’ve made a decision, I am sure we will let you know.”
As clear as mud, then.
Lamptey replaced Joel Veltman in the defence at Villa Park. Veltman was rested, with Arsenal’s visit to the Amex Stadium on Saturday in mind, after two matches back from a four-game layoff with a calf injury.
The 32-year-old Dutchman’s position is transparent. Veltman disclosed to The Athletic after his comeback appearance in the 1-1 draw at West Ham before Christmas that he has an option for another year in his contract, which is due to expire in the summer, and that he is keen to stay.
Brighton players often have option years written into their deals. It is unclear, however, whether that is the case with Lamptey. He signed a new long-term contract in 2021 — during the reign of Graham Potter — which expires in June.
So, how can we gauge how highly or otherwise Hurzeler rates Lamptey as an option for the right-back berth? Actions may speak louder than words. The Villa game was only Lamptey’s fourth Premier League start out of 19 since the German succeeded Roberto De Zerbi in the summer.
Veltman is Hurzeler’s clear first choice when fit. On other occasions earlier in the season, Hurzeler also used Jack Hinshelwood and Ferdi Kadioglu at right-back prior to respective knee and toe injuries which have ruled both players out since the beginning of November.
Hinshelwood subsequently moved into central midfield — his main position in his academy days — while Turkish international Kadioglu is better known as a left-back.
Lamptey scored his third goal of the season for Brighton at Villa Park (David Davies/Getty Images)
To his credit, Lamptey has seized his limited opportunities in an attacking sense. The 24-year-old is in the best goal scoring form of his career. He has netted twice in his last four Premier League outings, having also been on target in the 2-2 draw at Leicester in the early part of December. That represents one more goal than in his first 92 games in the competition.
Lamptey also scored in the 3-2 home defeat by Liverpool in the Carabao Cup at the end of October. Overall, that is three goals in his last seven appearances, a healthy return for a full-back.
Both league goals have been of the highest calibre. His curling strike from distance at Leicester was followed at Villa by Lamptey launching a three-man move with a pass inside to Joao Pedro. The Brazilian exchanged passes with Kaoru Mitoma to set up Lamptey for a thunderous right-foot effort which sped past Emiliano Martinez.
Lamptey also provided an assist for Mitoma’s header with an inviting cross in the 1-1 home draw against Southampton in November and a passing assist for Evan Ferguson in the 2-2 draw at home to Wolves in October.
Lamptey has always been exciting and elusive going forward, ever since bursting onto the scene under Potter after moving from Chelsea at the end of the January transfer window in 2020.
Explosive pace — his biggest asset — was hampered by a hamstring surgery which set him back for nine months from December 2020 to September 2021. That was followed by a knee injury, which kept him out from March in the 2022-23 campaign.
Hurzeler said during his post-match press conference at Villa: “We know always when ‘T’ is playing, he has an impact on the game. He showed it again. It’s not only about scoring, it’s about how he defended and I think he did it quite well.
“When you come to Villa Park, you have to defend well. I don’t remember big chances for Villa when you take the set pieces away. That’s the job from the defenders and I think they did it quite well.”
The cautious praise from Hurzeler for Lamptey’s defensive contribution is significant. That aspect of his game has been the lingering question mark, as much as anything because his 5ft 5ins frame puts him at a physical disadvantage, particularly in aerial combat.
The picture regarding Lamptey’s future promises to become clearer in January. The winter transfer window coincides with four league fixtures for Hurzeler’s side, plus a third round tie away to Norwich in the FA Cup and probable returns to contention for Hinshelwood and Kadioglu.
(Top photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
