Super Eagles winger Femi Azeez is close to returning to action for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion after weeks on the sidelines.

The 25-year-old has played competitive minutes for the Seagulls since arriving from Millwall in the summer, following a brilliant outing in the English Championship last season.

Azeez joined Brighton on deadline day and arrived with a minor hamstring injury and has missed the Seagulls’ blistering start to the Premier League season.

The injury also kept him out of Eric Chelle’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau last month and the friendly match against Russia. 

The winger arrived having led Milwall to the semi-final of the Championship playoffs, where they lost 2-0 to Hull City. Femi Azeez had a terrific individual season, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in 37 appearances. He was also named in the PFA and Championship teams of the season.

Brighton shared a picture of the Nigerian winger training with the rest of the squad ahead of the trip to Sunderland on Saturday.

Fabian Hurzeler had expressed optimism on his return and about other injured players before the international break, according to The Argus, a local daily newspaper in Brighton.

I have hope with Minteh, I have hope with Jack Hinshelwood, and I am quite positive also Femi will be back in a good mood and on a good level,” he said.

“Svoboda is also back in training. I am quite positive that we see a lot of players back.”

Femi Azeez could be on the bench if passed fit by the medical team as Brighton look to extend their fine start to the season.

The Seagulls masterminded a 4-0 win over Aston Villa, a 5-0 win over newcomers, Coventry City, before blowing apart reigning champions, Arsenal, before the international break.

Brighton also knocked Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup as they came from behind to beat Michael Carrick’s men 3-2 at Old Trafford.

If fit to play, Femi Azeez will compete for game time against Paraguay’s Diego Gomez and Belgian winger Maxim De Cuyper, who have had a combined five-goal contribution in 10 matches in the league.

Meanwhile, Brighton will hope to continue their winning streak as they take on Sunderland on Saturday afternoon. The Seagulls are currently third on the log with 10 points from five matches.