#SubstitutesRule

It is no surprise Graham Potter is in favour of a return to five substitutions per team per match in the Premier League. The Albion head coach was probably the first to make clever use of the amendment when it came in for the Restart fixtures almost two years ago. From next season, Prem clubs will return to how things were in that strange summer of 2020. Five in-game changes per team and up to three stoppages in play in which to make them. Potter used his full five changes at the first time of asking when action resumed in June 2020. And his reading of the small print was ultimately key in helping his side pull off a pivotal 2-1 success over Arsenal. Potter sent on Solly March for Aaron Mooy, then made a double change with Martin Montoya and Aaron Connolly on for Ezequiel Schelotto and Pascal Gross. When Dale Stephens went on for Leandro Trossard on 87 minutes, it looked like a fourth and final change for the Seagulls. What Potter knew – and many of us had not realised – was that half-time did not count as one of the substitution windows. And March had gone on at the interval. So, while many asked “Can he do that?”, Potter was able to send on Alexis Mac Allister for an exhausted Yves Bissouma in the fourth minute of added time. Mac Allister went on to play a big part in the late winning goal put away by Neal Maupay. Potter was asked about making five changes at his press conference yesterday, just before the change was rubber-stamped by Prem clubs. He said: “We’ve always been in favour of it. “There would be no reason for us to change that. “It does change things a little bit. When we first had it post lockdown I quite enjoyed it as a coach. “It gives you a bit more options, a bit more dynamic off the bench. “It’s a tricky one to do halfway through the season for different reasons but, if everyone agrees, or a majority agrees for the rule to go through, then it could be an exciting addition to what is already a fantastic competition.” Potter believes the switch can help keep players motivated. He said: “If you think on a human level, we’ve got a squad of 20-plus players and only 11 can play and only three can come on as subs. “With five subs it brings a bit more hope, a bit more opportunity to everyone which makes my life a little bit easier. “I am not saying it’s the complete solution. “More people by definition can get on the pitch, it’s not saying that they definitely will. BRIGHTON LATEST ON ROBERT SANCHEZ AND TARIQ LAMPTEY “Like anything there’s an opportunity, but it doesn’t guarantee you anything, you’ve still got to use the players right, they’ve got to play well, but it certainly makes it a bit more to do with the coaches. “At the moment you know once you’ve made your three changes there’s less for you to do, so I think it’s an exciting thing.” Potter was reminded he now had scope to make more wholesale changes. He replied: “Yes, but so can the opponent. “If it was just for us I’d be really in favour of it! “But it’s for everybody and then you know there are challenges presented by the other team. “It’s an opportunity for coaches to make more changes, for players to have more minutes on the pitch and then the challenge is how well we use it.” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola were both critics of not adopting the changes for the current domestic league campaign when it was allowed in European competitions as well as for England’s domestic cup fixtures. Previously some top-flight clubs had expressed reservations over a move to permanently increase the number of substitutes available during a league game amid concerns it could favour those with stronger squad depth. Following further discussions on Thursday, it was decided to adopt the new regulations from the start of the 2022-2023 campaign which will be officially implemented at the annual general meeting. The Premier League also confirmed the 2022 summer transfer window will open on June 10 and close at 11pm BST on September 1, which will bring it in line with other European leagues, while Covid-19 protocols will move to symptomatic testing of players and staff rather than twice-weekly.