Solly March and Danny Welbeck will be sidelined for “a long time”, says Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi.

“Unfortunately it’s a very tough injury – football is like this and injury can happen,” said De Zerbi, who did not specify what the problem was.

Forward Welbeck, 32, was replaced early in the game because of a muscle injury.

The duo join Julio Enciso, Jakub Moder, Pervis Estupinan and Tariq Lamptey as the latest long-term casualties for the Seagulls.

“Unfortunately, it’s a very tough injury [for March]. We lose him for a long time and Danny Welbeck the same,” said De Zerbi as he looked ahead to Thursday’s Europa League game against Ajax.

“It’s not my job to inform you about the injury, I know we’ve lost an important player for a long time but I don’t want to cry because sometimes managers do when they lose players.”

March has had a long lay-off before, suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2015 that saw him miss the second half of the 2015-16 season.