Kaoru Mitoma, once the best dribbler on the Japanese national team, continues to struggle with form.
Mitoma joined English Premier League (EPL) side Brighton & Hove Albion from Japanese J-League side Kawasaki Frontale in August 2021. Mitoma was loaned to Belgian side Gwynion Saint-Gilles shortly after his arrival. He returned to Brighton in June last year after completing his loan spell.
Since making his debut in England last season, Mitoma has become one of Brighton's ace players. He scored 10 goals and provided eight assists in 41 games across all competitions in 2022/23. In the EPL, he added seven goals and six assists in 33 games. Mitoma's breakout season helped Brighton finish sixth in the league and qualify for the UEFA Europa League for the first time in franchise history.
Mitoma seemed to carry his momentum into the early part of this season, as he recorded back-to-back attacking points in the opening two games of the 2023/24 campaign against Luton Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers. He even had a multi-goal game against Bournemouth in round six. 바카라사이트
Just when it looked like Mitoma was going to be a consistent performer for Brighton, his recent upward trajectory has stalled. Since scoring twice against Bournemouth in September, Mitoma has gone nine league games without a goal. If you extend that to the UEFA Europa League and Carabao Cup, it's 14 games without a goal.
The same was true against Burnley on October 10. Mitoma was substituted at halftime against Burnley but failed to score again. Brighton were unable to add to their three points as they drew 1-1 with relegation-threatened Burnley.
Brighton are eighth in the league with seven wins, five draws, and four losses (26 points). The Seagulls are struggling with a number of injuries, including Ansu Pati and Pervis Estupinan. They need Mitoma to step up, but he hasn't been able to break out of his silence. It remains to be seen if Mitoma can make a comeback.