Loan striker Graham Barrett was due to return to training today giving Seagulls boss Steve Coppell a boost as he prepares for his first game at the helm against Sheffield United.

Coppell did not expect Barrett back until tomorrow after he was added to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for last night's game against Switzerland.

Irish boss Mick McCarthy then decided Barrett was no longer needed when an injury cleared up sooner than expected, so the Seagulls' loan signing from Arsenal was allowed to play the whole game for the under 21's against the Swiss on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Albion have brought forward the reserve team fixture at home to Portsmouth, scheduled for March 12, to next Tuesday (2pm) and it will now be played at Fratton Park.

The reserves were not due to play again until October 30 but Coppell wants another look at trialists Simon Rodger and Dean Blackwell and the rest of the squad.

The Avon Insurance Combination League match at Peterborough, due to take place on November 27, has been put back to December 16 (2pm) to avoid a clash with the first team's rearranged trip to Nottingham Forest.

David Lee is expected to make his debut for Third Division Bristol Rovers at York on Saturday after joining them yesterday on a month's loan.

The midfielder has made just two senior appearances for Albion since Peter Taylor signed him from Hull in January.

All the latest from the camp at thisisthyealbion.co.uk