'There have been games this season that have bypassed him'

With Brighton on a sequence of seven Premier League games unbeaten, including six successive wins, asking which player needs to do more is akin to asking whether I would rather give up eating sausages or drinking red wine. Impossible to answer.

Lewis Dunk sprung to mind. The Albion captain has been well below his best in 2024-25, and this current fantastic run of form coincides with his absence because of a rib injury.

When Dunk might return is clouded in mystery. Could be against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Saturday. Might not be until May. Either way, it seems harsh to tell a bloke who has spent seven weeks and counting in the treatment room that he needs to do more.

I have, therefore, gone for Joao Pedro. When Pedro is in the right mood, he is a fantastic footballer. You don't lead the line for Brazil wearing the number nine shirt if you aren't.

But there have been games this season that have bypassed him, in which his most noteworthy contribution has been to wave at the Amex crowd, demanding more support from the terraces (a subject previously covered on this page).

There are other aspects of Pedro's game which have come close to letting the Albion down. He was lucky to escape a red card against Brentford in December when swinging an elbow in frustration at an opponent.

Against Manchester City last time out, Pedro might have picked up a second yellow for simulation. He does like to roll around on the floor, although his acting skills are unlikely to bother Steve McFadden in terms of competition for a National Television Award this year.

Pedro is good enough to be one of the next big money departures from Brighton to a 'big six' club. If he plays as well as he can over the remainder of the campaign, it could happen as soon as this summer.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton

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