Brighton striker Neal Maupay makes honest admission on injuries ahead of Arsenal return

Brighton are due to play the first of their nine remaining fixtures over the weekend of June 19-22 against Arsenal behind closed doors at the Amex.

"We are looking forward to playing again," said the striker who has scored eight goals so far this campaign - including the winner against the Gunners during a memorable 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium last December.

"It’s been difficult to train without knowing if there would be any more games this season but now we can prepare and plan our build-up for the first game.”

Maupay and the rest of the squad are adapting to the protocols put in place since training resumed and contact work was allowed for the first time last week.

“In many ways it’s like normal, except at the end of the session we all went to our own corner of the training ground to drink from our bottle,” he added.

“No matter what happens in the first two or three weeks there will be a lack of rhythm after three months without playing,” he said.

“We’ve seen it in Germany with the Bundesliga, who are ahead of the Premier League. There have been quite a few injuries and it will be the same with the Premier League.

“There just won’t be that intensity straight away. You can train twice a day for several weeks but there is no substitute for that [intensity]. So I think the first few games are going to be difficult.”

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