Albion have suffered another injury blow ahead of tonight's trip to mid-table Rushden and Diamonds.

Loan striker Darius Henderson has joined the long list of casualties after tweaking a calf in training yesterday.

Chris McPhee takes his place up front.

Henderson now faces a fight to be fit for Saturday's home game against Blackpool, the last of his two-month loan spell from Reading.

Meanwhile, boss Steve Coppell is backing new signing Zeshan Rehman and his fellow young gems to keep the Seagulls near the top of the table.

The versatile Rehman, signed on a month's loan from Fulham, is one of six players aged 20 or under in the squad.

Coppell has been hit by injuries to the same number of senior pros.

"I think it's a natural by-product of seven games in 21 days and the five we have played so far," he said.

"It's inevitable when games are that close together that you are going to get knocks, aches and strains. We've got a few problems but that's what we have a squad for. As one player goes out it's an opportunity for someone else.

"It's not a trauma for us. There are an awful lot of players at a football club who are half hoping for injuries so they get an opportunity, but that puts the onus on them and they have to perform.

"I've got a lot of confidence in a particularly tight-knit squad of players. I know they look after each other and I hope they can perform if they get the chance."

Rehman arrived too late yesterday to train with the rest of the players at Withdean. The tall former England youth international is vying with another 19-year-old, Dan Harding, for a central midfield spot, with Robbie Pethick poised to revert to the centre of defence.

Rehman, born in Birmingham, said: "I played a few pre-season games in the first team and I played in the Carling Cup against Wigan last week.

"It's an opportunity for me to play first team football. At Fulham we've got quite a big squad and quite a few internationals there as well.

"I spoke to the manager (Chris Coleman) about it and he said it will be good for me."

Rushden, beaten only once at home in the League this year, include ex-Albion striker Paul Kitson in a squad similarly depleted by injuries.