Tariq Lamptey faces a race against time to be fit for Brighton's opening Premier League game against Burnley next month.
The 20-year-old full back was not part of the Albion squad which travelled to Glasgow to face Scottish Premiership Champions Rangers in a pre-season friendly yesterday evening.
He had only returned to training recently following surgery on a hamstring injury which had kept him out since December.
But after their goalless draw at Ibrox, Potter gave an update on Lamptey's recovery.
He said: “It’s a little bit slower than we would like and probably he would like but with the nature of his surgery and the injury, we need to make sure that he’s right rather than putting any timescale on it.
“He’s making progress but not as fast as we and he would like.
“It’s important that we just stay patient and do the right things for him, make sure we finish off this last stage of his rehab in a good way, because it’s not necessarily about being available for the first game, it’s about being available for as many games as he can in the season.”
Potter was then asked whether he will play any part in their other pre-season friendlies against Luton on Saturday (July 24) and Getafe at the Amex the following weekend (Saturday, August 7), to which he replied: “At this stage, I would say it’s unlikely but you never know.
"We'll take it not necessarily day-by day, but essentially, we have got a plan but we’ll see how he responds as well, that is important.”
Lamptey may not be the only one who is likely to miss Albion’s trip to Kenilworth Road on Saturday, with skipper Lewis Dunk set to be unavailable again.
The 29-year-old only resumed full training last week following an operation on his foot at the end of last season.
But one of his regular partners in defence, Adam Webster could make a return to the side after being unavailable at Ibrox on Saturday.
Potter said: “They’ve got a chance, Adam more so than Lewis.”
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