Kaoru Mitoma will be looking to break a Japanese scoring record in the Premier League when Brighton & Hove Albion travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United on Saturday.
The 25-year-old started only once under former boss Graham Potter at the beginning of this season, but since the appointment of head coach Roberto De Zerbi in September, the winger has established himself as a key player at the Amex Stadium.
Mitoma – who joined Brighton from Japanese club Kawasaki Frontale in August 2021 – has scored eight goals and provided four assists in 24 games for the Seagulls across all competitions this season, including six strikes in the Premier League.
The Japan international, who represented his country at the 2022 World Cup, scored in last weekend's 4-0 win over West Ham United and has now drawn level with compatriots Shinji Okazaki and Shinji Kagawa on six goals in a single Premier League campaign.
Mitoma will become the highest-scoring Japanese player in a single Premier League season if he finds the net in Brighton's clash away against Leeds on Saturday.
© Reuters
Mitoma has revealed that he is aware of the scoring feat and believes he is more likely to break the record if he retains his place in De Zerbi's starting lineup.
"I know about the record. I would just like to go as far as I can, but it will not be that easy. The team played well [against West Ham] and that gave me a chance to score," the winger told Brighton's official website.
"I will play for the team first and then will try to get goals myself. Only by getting a good result in every match I can continue to play as a starter.
"If I play the game from the start I can control the things, like playing wide, taking a certain position or taking on the opponent but it can change depending on who we play against.
"It's easier if I play from the start but there are also things that I can do from the bench. I think it's my strength that I can play in both those roles."
© Reuters
Brighton are enjoying an impressive 2022-23 campaign and currently sit eighth in the Premier League table, seven points behind the top four with three games in hand on fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Mitoma believes that the Seagulls are riding on a wave of confidence at present and hopes they claim their third successive victory on Saturday after following up their FA Cup fifth-round win over Stoke City with the four-goal success against West Ham last weekend.
"We have confidence going into every match, but it's true that we couldn't get a good result in the last couple of [Premier League] matches," Mitoma added. "We thought we must get a good one against West Ham because they were in a lower position in the table.
"I think we were able to show good qualities even without the head coach (who was serving a one-match ban) watching from the bench. The important thing is continuing to show our qualities."
Brighton head to Elland Road after putting together a five-game unbeaten away run, and will be looking to complete the league double over Leeds after winning 1-0 at the Amex back in August.
Oliver Thomas
