BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION boss Chris Hughton says he has no fears about Leon Balogun coping with his next big challenge against Chelsea.
The summer signing will make his full home debut against Eden Hazard and company at the Amex on Sunday (1.30) alongside Chelsea fan Lewis Dunk as the deputy for the suspended Shane Duffy.
Balogun was minutes away from reaching the last 16 of the World Cup with Nigeria in the summer until a late goal for Lionel Messi’s Argentina denied them.
He replaced the injured Dunk against Manchester United and Liverpool at the start of the season and the 30-year-old will now be trying to repel star-studded Chelsea, with Duffy serving the second of a three-match ban for his red card against Crystal Palace.
Hughton told The Argus: “It helps you are bringing somebody in that is an experienced player. The only thing he hasn’t done is play games.
“He trains very well and you have got to be ready, particularly in that position.”
Hughton was delighted with the performances of his new center-half pairing in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Burnley following Balogun’s instant goalscoring impact from the bench in the Palace game.
“It’s a hard day playing against whichever two they have up front,” Hughton said.
“They have a direct style, they will get the ball up front, and they have two very physical centre-forwards.
“So it was a hard day for us but I thought both of them did really well.”
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