Chris Hughton wishes he could call upon the last player to score against Arsenal for Albion at the Emirates on Sunday.

But it may not be too much longer before he can finally turn to Sam Baldock in the Premier League.

Baldock scored the second goal in Albion's 3-2 FA Cup defeat by Arsenal at the Amex, a month into Hughton's reign.

Since that game, in January 2015, Baldock has become an increasingly important part of Hughton's plans.

He bagged 12 goals last season to help the Seagulls to promotion, but has not featured at all since then due to a calf problem which required surgery and has taken much longer to recover from than expected.

Hughton told The Argus: "Every now and again there is one that takes longer than we thought it was going to be and that's the case with Sam.

"But he's training now. He's trained the last week with us. I think he will be one we will probably have to end up fast-tracking a little but, because up until now he hasn't played a game or had a pre-season.

"Tuesday's under-23 game will be too early, but we have a game the following week which we are hoping to play him in."

The Argus: The slightly-build Baldock (above) is different to the other strikers Hughton has, nippy and mobile.

He would have been ideal to solve the striker headache on Sunday, with Glenn Murray (ankle) unlikely to be risked and Tomer Hemed suspended.

Hughton said: "It's frustrating, as much for him, somebody embarking on a Premier League season.

"Everyone came back in the summer really looking forward to this challenge and then to be out for such a long period of time I think has been hugely frustrating for him, particularly when you have small setbacks.

"For us, particularly with what we've had up front at times with Glenn having a small period out and now Tomer, it would certainly be to our advantage to have Sam available now."

Baldock was awarded a new three-year deal in the summer.

Hughton said: "It's also about what they have done for this club over the last few seasons. There is not going to be a dramatic difference from the top end of the Championship to towards the bottom of this division.

"There are a huge amount of players that had good Championship times that are also doing well in the Premier League. Sam has to think he is one that is very much part of that."

The test at Arsenal marks another phase of Albion's Premier League adventure for Hughton.

"This is definitely another type of challenge for us," he said. "In the six games we've had different types of challenges.

"The first one was at home to Manchester City, who had an outstanding pre-season and have gone on to show how prolific they can be.

"This would be the first of this type, a top six team away from home, and that itself brings another challenge.

"We will certainly have to be at a level to be able to get anything from the game."