Brighton and Hove Albion head coach Dario Vidosic gave a positive update on the wellbeing of Maelys Mpome after she was stretchered off and receiving oxygen after a head injury against Arsenal in the Women’s Super League last weekend.
“It wasn’t great to see her stretchered off but I think it was great to see at the same time how much support was around her, the level of protection that the players had,” he told a press conference on Thursday.
“[I was] very concerned to begin with, and then after the game got a very positive report that she was up and about. I saw her obviously after the game, and she said she’s okay, just felt a little bit groggy, but she’s her usual self now, she’s just going through obviously the concussion protocols. So when she’s cleared of all that, then she’ll rejoin us.
“Thankfully, she’s all okay.”
Sophie Baggaley to start for Brighton
Brighton host Southampton in the Subway Women’s League Cup this weekend, and Vidosic revealed that goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley will be in the starting eleven.
“She will start, as long as – touch wood – she gets through the sessions, and everything’s okay. She will start on the on the weekend.
“She’s pushing, she’s training, she’s doing everything she can. At the moment, [Chiamaka Nnadozie] has been doing very well also. So that’s that sort of decision that I’ve made at the moment, to go with Chi, but she’s working well.
“So if her opportunity comes, which it will on the weekend, it will be an opportunity for her to put her best foot forward as well, and trying to make my decision as difficult as possible for selection after the international break.”
Some players “potentially need a rest”
He added that some other players may be getting a rest this weekend, confirming that within the camp there are a lot of sore and tired bodies after the week last week, especially finishing off at the Emirates.”
And he explained further: “It’s an opportunity for a lot of players. We have to be smart as well, so even though we’ve had the bit longer time now, from the last week to get ready, I still have to take consideration. There’s going to be a lot of players that straight after that game are going to be jumping on a flight. They’re going to be heading off to the national teams, playing games all across the world.
“So I’ve taken all that into context from the last week, what players have done, which ones potentially need a rest. So we will make some changes. We will rotate a little bit.”
