Fabian Hurzeler will lean on the advice of three-time Premier League champion Yaya Toure as Brighton continue their European push against Newcastle United on Sunday.

Toure, who won the Premier League title as a Manchester City player in 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2017-18.

The former Barcelona star visited Brighton's training ground this week.

His visit came with the Seagulls locked in a battle for eighth place – which could mean Europa Conference League qualification – with Fulham and Bournemouth.

A dramatic 3-2 victory over West Ham last week kept Brighton on track, though they are currently below Fulham due to their inferior goal difference.

Speaking at Thursday's press conference, Hurzeler said he and his players could learn from Toure's visit, telling reporters: "In general, we are a very open club and we always want to learn from other departments and other personalities.

"He's an unbelievable personality and he was a great player, so therefore we had two aspects when he was here.

"The first one is he has a good relationship to the African players, and I think it's very important we have someone there who can talk with the players, who has an understanding of where they come from, how is the culture there and what are their needs. 

"And on the other side he was a great player so he can give me and the players some small advice on what it needs to be at the highest level.

"We had a really interesting exchange. Although I didn't have that much time, I took away a lot of things and for sure we'll stay in touch and let's see how this relationship continues."

Newcastle are already guaranteed Conference League football as a minimum, as a result of their EFL Cup triumph in March.

However, Eddie Howe's Magpies are currently on course to make the Champions League, sitting third in the table albeit with Manchester City, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa all within five points of them.

Newcastle thumped Ipswich Town 3-0 last week – their 27th Premier League victory by a margin of at least three goals since Howe joined in November 2021. Only Man City (38) have more such victories in that time.

"We have to stop their dynamic play," Hurzeler said of facing Newcastle. "We know it is another big, big challenge for us but we are looking forward to it and after training this week, we are ready for it."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brighton – Kaoru Mitoma 

Mitoma has scored on each of his last two Premier League appearances for Brighton, both as a substitute, the sixth time he's scored in back-to-back games in the competition, though he's never scored in three in a row.

Newcastle United – Alexander Isak 

Isak has scored 22 Premier League goals this season, the most by a Newcastle player since Alan Shearer in 2003-04 (22), while Shearer was the last player with more (23 in 2001-02). 

Brighton are the only side Isak has faced more than once in the competition without scoring, however (four games, 321 minutes and 15 shots).

MATCH PREDICTION – NEWCASTLE UNITED WIN

Since December 14, no side has won more Premier League matches than Newcastle (P19 W14 L5), while champions Liverpool are the only team to score more goals in that time (51) than the Magpies (46).

They have won 19 Premier League matches this season and are looking to win 20 in a season for the first time since 2002-03 under Bobby Robson (21). 

Howe could also become the first English manager since Frank Lampard with Chelsea in 2019-20 to win 20 Premier League games in a season.

While Newcastle are favourites for this game, they are winless in all seven of their away Premier League games against Brighton (D4 L3), the joint-most they have visited an opponent in the competition without ever winning (also seven v Watford and Wimbledon). 

That's the outright most Brighton have faced a side without losing at home in the Premier League. 

Entertainment should be expected. Brighton are one of two sides in the Premier League this season who have both scored and conceded 55 or more goals (56 for, 55 against), along with Tottenham. Each of their last 11 matches has contained at least three goals scored.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Brighton – 34%

Newcastle United – 41.1%

Draw – 24.8%