Brighton & Hove are sweating on Leon Balogun's fitness ahead of tomorrow evening's Premier League match against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The Nigeria international center back had been tipped by almost everyone to play his second game in the Emirates FA Cup against West Brom but wasn't even included in the 18-man squad.

East Sussex newspaper, The Argus, has cleared up the mystery as they have disclosed that Balogun missed the tie through illness.

Brighton's manager Chris Hughton had to hand a debut to Dan Burn as a result of the unavailability of the Super Eagles star.

The former Mainz and Darmstadt 98 defender is third choice in the pecking order of central defenders at Brighton, behind Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy and this has limited his appearances to only five starts in the Premier League.

The match against The Baggies was the first time Balogun failed to make Brighton's match day squad since his arrival in England last summer.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel