Albion hot-shot Bobby Zamora could miss the rest of the season with a freak injury inflicted by a team-mate.
Zamora needs surgery on a broken finger. Boss Micky Adams has ruled him out of tomorrow night's trip to Rochdale and Saturday's visit to Halifax.
Adams will then decide whether his star striker should have the operation or if he needs him for the rest of the promotion run-in.
Zamora suffered the injury in bizarre circumstances against Mansfield at Withdean on Saturday after his 25th goal of the season in the Seagulls' 2-0 win.
Team-mate Kerry Mayo accidentally whacked the ball against him. Zamora also twisted his right ankle and was eventually forced off in the second half.
Adams revealed: "The ankle is not too bad, but the problem now is with the hand. He has got a bone which has been displaced. He needs an operation on it and the specialist has said the quicker the better. That would rule him out for the rest of the season. The only other option we have got is some manipulative treatment and some sort of covering which might then see him through. We will see how the next two games go."
Zamora said: "Kerry tried to get the ball in the box. I was a bit too close to him and put my hand up to block it."
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