Albion’s reduced number of midfield options ceased to be a talking point early yesterday afternoon.

But it was not for a good reason.

Kaoru Mitoma will miss most – possibly all – of their remaining games this season due to a back injury.

It is known the problem is NOT connected to the foul committed on him by red-carded Mason Holgate at Sheffield United.

When asked by The Argus, Roberto De Zerbi was not willing to give details of the injury.

But he looked grim-faced when he opened his eve-of-match match press conference by telling us: “Bad, bad situation.”

He added: “I think we lost Mitoma until the end of the season.”

We certainly weren’t expecting that.

If there is any consolation, it is that Albion have plenty of left wingers.

It is in that role that, apparently, Ansu Fati feels most comfortable.

It is in that role that Simon Adingra starred at AFCON and, last season, in Belgium.

It was from that area that Julio Enciso cut in and scored his goal of the season against Manchester City.

Enciso also played there when Albion went 4-0 up in the first half at home to Wolves last year.

When the time comes, we might see Valentin Barco in that area, although he is not ready yet.

But Mitoma is a huge loss - the best of his type in the Premier League.

Nowhere will we be reminded of that more vividly than at Molineux, where he scored a very early contender for goal of the season back in August.

He is a match-winner. A game-changer. He affects games and how opponents approach them.

Did Holgate feel under pressure to deal ruggedly with the Mitoma menace or would he have scythed down any Albion player who came in his path?

We will never know but it may well have been the former.

Even on his quiet days, Mitoma will do something to help tilt things in Albion’s favour.

The one, tantalising glimpse we saw of him and Simon Adingra back in partnership was the 5-0 romp at Sheffield United.

So exciting. Then it was snatched away again. No wonder De Zerbi looked so down.

It is indeed a bad, bad situation and injury seems to be the hardest word.

The head coach has been praised for the way he reacted to having no wingers for a while around Christmas and into January.

When his ad-hoc set-up worked, it tended to bring four goals in a game.

But there were times when the absences were noted, not least the 0-0 draw at deep-sitting, timid West Ham.

De Zerbi said: "I think you can explain how important Kaoru is - Adingra as well - by watching and comparing two games, West Ham away and Sheffield (United) away.

"When we were in possession on the wings against Sheffield man to man, it was important in winning the game.

“At West Ham we suffered in the position."

So what now? The chances of playing Fati out wide will be reduced if, as sounded very possible, Danny Welbeck joins Evan Ferguson and Joao Pedro on the injured list.

Welbeck was rated doubtful while an ankle injury sustained as Everton scored on Saturday keeps Ferguson out tonight, although both he and Joel Veltman will be back at Fulham on Saturday.

Enciso can play as a No.9 but he will not get more than half an hour tonight.

That appears to leave a false No.9 role for either Ansu or Adam Lallana as the most obvious options in attack, barring a huge chance for under-21s forward Mark O’Mahony.

One wonders when De Zerbi will revert to a back four but the absence of Veltman tends to suggest it will not be this evening.

Which meant the big midfield question was not even mentioned as he spoke to reporters yesterday.

He has already hinted Carlos Baleba is the most likely replacement for suspended Billy Gilmour but he has surprised us before.

One wonders whether his mind goes back now to the end of the transfer window, when he pointed out Albion had lost midfielders.

Actually, we know it does.

When I referred back to that in the press conference on Saturday evening soon after the Everton game, his answer was initially just a long stare rather than any spoken words before he eventually said: “What do you think?”

Still, all cannot be gloom and doom. Albion have a good record in the FA Cup in recent seasons and Molineux has been a happy hunting ground.

De Zerbi said: “Our focus is to play well, to keep our organisation on the pitch and to play showing character, passion, pride.

“To reach results we have to play as Brighton.

“My focus is on the crucial part of the season because Kaoru is one of the most important in our team.

“I am sorry for him but it will be a chance for Julio Enciso, for Ansu Fati, Adingra, Buonanotte.”