Matt O’Riley is making progress in his recovery from an ankle injury that ended his debut for Brighton & Hove Albion early.
The 23-year-old midfielder, who made the switch from Celtic in a £30 million deal during the summer, suffered the blow just eight minutes into his first appearance for the Seagulls in a League Cup clash against Crawley Town.
Initially expected to be out for three months, O’Riley has made strides ahead of schedule.
On Thursday, Brighton shared a video on social media, showing O’Riley training solo as he works towards regaining match fitness. Captioned “Getting closer…” alongside a Danish flag.
Getting closer… 🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/1qElxvEPrV
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) October 17, 2024
O’Riley’s fast-tracked recovery is a major boost for Brighton, who will be hoping the former Celtic playmaker can hit the ground running once he’s fully fit.
His vision, passing range, and composure on the ball made him a standout in Glasgow, and there’s plenty of anticipation about how he will fit into the attacking system at the Amex Stadium.
Celtic fans were sad to see their star man leave in the summer, but it was clear that he was destined to go on and play for a team in a top league.
It has to be said, though, that Brighton, at the time, was a surprising move for him. Teams like Atletico Madrid and Atalanta were interested in him, launching bids.
Hopefully, he can get back on the pitch soon.
