Daniel Webb has revealed his relief at escaping from Southend and returning to Albion on a month's loan.

The teenage target man admits he never expected to be back with the Seagulls.

Webb scored once in 12 League appearances on loan last season to help lift the second division title, but Albion aborted plans to make the move permanent once Peter Taylor quit as manager.

The son of ex-Chelsea stopper and former Southend manager Dave Webb has not featured in the first team this season at Roots Hall, even though the Shrimpers are struggling in mid-table in Division Three.

"I never thought I would be back," said Webb. "When Peter Taylor left I wondered what was going to happen.

"At the time I wasn't very pleased with the way things were done, but Steve Coppell has come in now. This month has just given me a chance to get away from Southend and enjoy myself.

"It's hard to criticise anyone because I might end up going back there again, but when I do leave there a lot of things that will come out.

"I haven't played and that has unfortunately been for non-footballing reasons. I'm glad the gaffer here has given me a go.

"I've been playing well at Southend, in training and in reserve games. At least here I'm part of a squad and will be given a fair chance."

Webb, 19, replaced Bobby Zamora in the dying stages of last Saturday's 1-0 home win over Derby.

Ankle, heel and hamstring injuries have ruled Zamora out of the England under-21 get-together at Burnham Beeches, but Coppell is hopeful his five-goal star, Graham Barrett (knee) and Dean Blackwell (hamstring) will all be fit for Saturday's trip to Preston.

"Bobby has played in the last two games when in different circumstances he would certainly have not," Coppell said.

"If we'd had a little bit more depth in the squad up front we wouldn't have risked injuring him for a longer period by playing him in the short term."

Albion's return clash against Derby at Pride Park on December 14 is all-ticket for Seagulls supporters.

Cameroon trialist Roger Pandong makes his debut for the reserves in tonight's Sussex Senior Cup tie against Hastings at Worthing (7.30).

More from the camp at thisisthealbion.co.uk