Matt O’Riley’s move to the English Premier League football been far from smooth, with the former Celtic midfielder finding it difficult to establish himself in Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton side. His struggles were highlighted once again as he was left out of the squad for Brighton’s 2-1 FA Cup victory over Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.
A Difficult Debut Season
O’Riley made the high-profile switch to Brighton in a £25 million deal in the summer, but his first season in England’s top flight has been plagued with setbacks. The move was quickly derailed in September when he suffered an ankle injury following a reckless challenge from Crawley Town’s Jay Williams. The injury required surgery, keeping him sidelined for months.
Brief Moments of Promise
The Danish international made his return in November and marked the occasion in style, scoring a dramatic winner against Manchester City. However, despite that moment of brilliance, he has struggled to hold down a regular place in Brighton’s starting XI. His minutes have been limited, and he has yet to convince his manager that he deserves a consistent role in the starting XI.
Concerns Over Fitness
Hürzeler has not shied away from criticising O’Riley’s performances and fitness levels. After hauling him off at half-time against Arsenal, the German coach made it clear that he expected more from the former Celtic man. That warning appears to have gone ignored, with O’Riley featuring only rarely in recent games. He has played just six minutes in Brighton’s last three matches, coming off the bench late in their FA Cup win over Chelsea, before being dropped entirely for the Newcastle fixture.
Uncertain Future at Brighton
There has been no official word on whether O’Riley was carrying an injury for the Newcastle game, but Hürzeler did hint at a need to shake up his squad. Whether that includes giving O’Riley another opportunity remains to be seen. For Celtic fans who watched him excel in Glasgow, his current struggles will be disappointing to see. If he fails to turn things around soon, questions will start to emerge about whether the move to Brighton was the right step for his career.
