Jack Hinshelwood celebrates his goal just 35 seconds into the match against Wolves.
Warren Little/Getty Images
Jack Hinshelwood is driving Brighton & Hove Albion toward European qualification—in a position he had never played before February. Since head coach Fabian Hurzeler moved the 21-year-old from central midfield into the No. 10 role, he has thrived.
At that point, Hurzeler’s side was struggling, with only one league win in 13 matches, dropping them to 14th in the table. The positional switch has proven transformative for both Brighton and Hinshelwood.
The England Under-21 international has scored three goals and provided two assists in 10 appearances, helping his team secure seven wins and 22 points from a possible 30.
On Saturday at the Amex Stadium, Hinshelwood headed Brighton into the lead after just 35 seconds—the fastest goal in the club’s nine-season Premier League history, surpassing Alexis Mac Allister’s 49-second effort against Aston Villa in November 2022.
That goal sparked a 3-0 victory over relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers. Captain Lewis Dunk added a header from a corner after five minutes, and Yankuba Minteh sealed the result by firing into the roof of the net in the 86th minute.
Brighton now sit seventh, well positioned to secure European football for only the second time, with two games remaining: away to Leeds United on May 17 and at home to Manchester United on May 24.
Lewis Dunk and Jack Hinshelwood both scored against Wolves. (John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Hinshelwood’s quick strike exemplified the instincts he has shown in his new role. It was his third goal in as many games—having also scored in a 3-0 home win against Chelsea and a 3-1 defeat at Newcastle—after Kaoru Mitoma worked the ball out to Maxim De Cuyper, who chipped a cross to the far post.
“He has a really good understanding of the game and a really good feel for being in the right place,” Hurzeler told reporters afterward. “The main thing is his desire to score. How he attacks the opponent’s box. Now he’s getting the rewards, but in all the previous games, he was attacking the box, always a threat, so it’s about making those runs consistently.
“You may not always get the reward on the first, second, or third run, but he’s a player who keeps going. By making those runs, he not only gives himself scoring chances but also creates space for his teammates. He makes them better through his positioning and his drive to run in behind.”
Hurzeler, who signed a contract extension this week, deserves credit for recognizing Hinshelwood’s suitability as a No. 10. Mats Wieffer, ruled out against Wolves with an ankle injury, has been shifted from defensive midfielder to an effective right-back. In Hinshelwood’s case, Hurzeler felt the academy product could supply a missing element in the team’s attacking play.
“You always reflect on games, phases of the season, statistics, and performances,” Hurzeler told The Athletic. “At certain moments, you understand what’s missing. We felt we weren’t occupying the box well enough or making enough runs from behind.
“Jack has the perfect profile for that kind of thing, so we made the change. I’m really pleased with how it’s working.”
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Fabian Hurzeler has Brighton on the verge of European qualification once again. (David Watts/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Hinshelwood plays with a maturity beyond his years, both in his intelligent style and his desire to stay one step ahead. He already holds a UEFA B coaching license. Brought up through the academy as a traditional central midfielder, he made his first-team breakthrough under Roberto De Zerbi as an adventurous right-back in the 2023-24 season, when Brighton reached the round of 16.
