Lee Steele's Albion future is under a cloud following his dismissal in the reserves on Monday.

The wretched timing of the red card could be the final straw for the former Shrewsbury striker.

Steele was sent-off for kicking out at a Peterborough defender only hours after the Seagulls confirmed Bobby Zamora would be missing for at least three matches with a dislocated shoulder.

Now Steele faces an anxious wait to find out whether boss Peter Taylor ditches him from the squad again for Saturday's visit to Colchester.

Steele has already incurred the wrath of Taylor once, when the manager did not feel he was fit enough.

He was omitted from the squad as a result and was initially only on the bench when Zamora was banned for three matches, with rookie Chris McPhee chosen ahead of him.

Steele scored and sparkled on his return to the starting line-up at Stoke earlier this month. He has been vying since then with Daniel Webb for the right to partner Zamora.

The irony is that Steele might yet be reprieved against Bristol City on Monday and Peterborough on April 6 as a result of Webb's two-match ban.

Webb was preferred against Notts County last Saturday and he strengthened his case by heading his first goal for the club.

Steele replaced Gary Hart in the closing stages, but it may not be just his chances of deputising for Zamora which are jeopardised by Monday's rush of blood.

The 28-year-old Liverpudlian is out-of-contract in the summer.

He faces a three-match suspension for violent conduct, which will sideline him from the matches against Swindon and Port Vale and the first game next season if the Seagulls clinch automatic promotion.

There must be a big doubt now as to whether he will still be an Albion player by then.

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