Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Mo Dahoud has barely featured on loan at VfB Stuttgart because the situation hasn’t made it possible.
That’s according to manager Sebastien Hoeneß, who has explained why the January signing isn’t a more permanent fixture in his team.
Dahoud joined the German side on loan in the January transfer window after a frustrating few months at Brighton following a move in the summer.
He had arrived at the Seagulls on a free transfer as they sought to build a new midfield following the departures of Moises Caicedo and Alexis MacAllister.
He initially started the season as a regular under Roberto de Zerbi but soon fell out of the side and was struggling for gametime before his eventual move to Stuttgart.
The hope had been that he would get regular playing time with the German side and get back on track but that’s not happened, with him managing just seven appearances and 79 minutes of football so far.
He’s already expressed his disappointment at that, and his coach has moved to calm the issue, insisting the Brighton man has just been unfortunate.
“It would be the wrong wording that Mo is missing something (to be) in the starting eleven. It’s less about him and more about Angelo Stiller and Atakan Karazor. Also, about the game and results,” he said.
“It’s usually the case that we’re leading so it’s about getting the game over the finish line from behind – which speaks for giving it a shot.
“If we’re behind against a low-lying opponent who’s trying himself to get the game over the finish line, then I immediately come to Mo because he is able to outplay such opponents with his footballing class, to think broadly, to play forward.
“This constellation existed for us – to his disadvantage – it’s not that common yet. I’m very happy with him and I’m sure that his hour will strike again in the remaining nine games.”
