Chelsea defender Malo Gusto should be available for his side’s clash against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Malo Gusto missed Chelsea‘s 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United over the weekend but looks set to return for the Blues’ next match.

Journalist Simon Phillips recently stated on his Substack that a source has told him that the right-back “has been in training” and should be OK for the Brighton game.

It is a fixture that Mauricio Pochettino‘s side will be desperate to win after their recent humiliation at St James’ Park.

Despite threatening to cancel their day off, Pochettino did not force his side to train on Sunday in the end.

Should Malo Gusto start against Brighton?

If he is fit, then yes. Chelsea will obviously be without Reece James after his red card over the weekend, so bringing in Gusto is the logical move.

Axel Disasi is another option, with the 25-year-old having played at right-back against Brentford last month, but he is naturally a central defender and will not offer the same threat going forward.

Gusto himself has not exactly reached James’ level, but the Frenchman, who cost Chelsea around £30m after joining from Lyon (BBC Sport), has showed a lot of promise as an attacking full-back.

The 20-year-old has provided two assists in the Premier League this season and had a glorious chance to score against Manchester City in that incredible 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge just before the international break.

All in all, then, Gusto should get the nod to start when Chelsea welcome Brighton on Sunday. With Marc Cucurella also suspended for the game against his former side after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign at St James’ Park, it would be quite a surprise if a fit Gusto was left out of Pochettino’s first XI.