Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton has said that it has been "very difficult" to be able to give enough playing time to defender Uwe Hunemeier.

The centre-back became a regular in the side when first arriving at the Amex Stadium in 2015, but the German has featured for just 17 minutes in the Premier League this season.

Queens Park Rangers are allegedly interested in his signature and although Hughton did not comment on the rumours, the Seagulls manager has suggested that he would have liked to have given the 32-year-old more first-team action.

At a press conference, the 59-year-old told reporters: "There's nothing I can say about that at the moment, that's news to me.

"It's been very difficult particularly this season and last season for him to get the games he would like or want, simply because of the form of Shane [Duffy] and Lewis [Dunk].

"Not only their form but neither of them have gone through a spell of injury, so have very much cemented their place. Uwe from the moment he came has been excellent for us. He trains well every single day and is a valued member of the squad and what we're doing."

Brighton possess the eighth-best defence in the top flight this season.