Nigeria international defender Leon Balogun will get more competition in central defence at Brighton and Hove Albion after the confirmation by coach Chris Hughton of the side that on loan defender Dan Burn will join the team in January.
Burn was signed in the summer from Wigan Athletics but loaned back to same team until January, Balogun was also signed same summer from Mainz 05 of Germany on a free transfer.
Balogun has played just twice this season after failing to displace the duo of Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy who are the preferred choice of the coach in central defence for the past two seasons.
Already Balogun’s spot with the senior national team of Nigeria is under threat with coach Gernot Rohr urging him to leave the club to where he will be able to get playing time if he fails to break into the team.
The Super Eagles coach said his selection will be in doubt if he keeps sitting on the bench at Brighton because at the age of 30 he should be playing regularly to boost his fitness but he could fall further down the pecking order by the time Burn arrives in January.
Although Hughton has assured the Nigerian that he has a future at the team, 26 year old Burn is viewed by many as an upgrade on the Nigerian following his starring role for Wigan last season, where he helped them lift the League One title.
