Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler says Nigeria international Femi Azeez will need more time before making his competitive debut for the club as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

The 25-year-old joined Brighton from Sky Bet Championship side Millwall on deadline day but has yet to feature in a competitive match for the Seagulls.

Azeez suffered a minor hamstring problem on the opening day of the season while playing for Millwall, delaying the start of his Brighton career at the Amex Stadium.

The winger has made progress in his rehabilitation and played for Brighton in a friendly during the most recent international break. However, Hurzeler confirmed that he is still not ready to return to competitive action.

Speaking before Thursday’s UEFA Conference League fixture against Jablonec, the Brighton manager said the club was continuing to manage Azeez’s recovery carefully.

“With Femi, again we have to be patient with him. It’s not quite clear how long it will take. It seems to be not a big issue, but therefore we have to be patient,” Hurzeler told reporters.

Azeez will remain sidelined while Brighton monitor his fitness, with the club determined to ensure he is fully prepared before selecting him for his first competitive appearance.