With just 30 minutes of football all season, it’s time for this 29-year-old to leave Brighton

Why It’s Time For Sam Baldock To Leave Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton & Hove Albion have enjoyed a decent season in the top-flight this term. Despite being a newly-promoted side, the Seagulls have put in some impressive displays under Chris Hughton’s watchful eyes and are currently placed 13th in the Premier League table.

With 7 games to go, they stand a good chance of securing a top-ten finish and doing so will certainly help cement their credibility in the competition.

Almost all their players have been instrumental in their success this season but Sam Baldock’s story is entirely different.

Even though his goals and assists played a crucial role in helping the club secure a promotion last term, the 29-year-old has seemingly been iced out of the squad. Due to an injury that he sustained last July, Baldock had to miss out on a lot of action in the first two months of the season.

However, even after gaining fitness, he has seen a significant reduction in his game time. He has appeared just thrice for Brighton in the Premier League (2 substitute appearances) and was handed a solitary start in the FA Cup, coupled with two more substitute appearances, which adds up to 30 minutes of action this season.

In such a situation, it is quite clear that an exit from the Amex Stadium would benefit him this summer. At 29 years of age, Baldock needs all the playing time he can get but unfortunately, the Seagulls cannot provide it right now.

Last campaign, Baldock was partnered with strikers up front but since moving to the top-flight, Hughton has made some changes in his tactics and has decided to play with one striker.

In doing so, the midfield area has received extra protection and this is a system that has worked for Brighton throughout this term. However, it does not come across as good news for Baldock since it simply means his future at the club is quite questionable.

Furthermore, Glenn Murray has been quite effective as the sole striker, scoring 13 goals across competitions. Brighton also have Tomer Hemed, who has done a decent job as a striker on certain occasions. In addition, they also have Leonardo Ulloa in the squad right now, who is serving a loan spell with the club.

Keeping all this in mind, Baldock might be better off considering an exit. There seems to be no room for the player in any of the attacking positions.