Mitoma out to break Japanese PL scoring record

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.

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.

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“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.