Nathan Jones has given Albion a boost by vowing to be fit for the start of the season.

The Welsh wizard expects to be available for the Seagulls' First Division opener at Burnley on Saturday week.

Albion feared Jones would miss the big kick-off for the second time in three seasons after straining a medial knee ligament in the friendly at Bognor last week.

Suspension sidelined him from the start of the 2000-2001 campaign following a free transfer move from Southend.

"I'll be back in contention for the start of the season," he pledged. "It's up to the manager then.

"When I first came here I was suspended for the first two games.

"I think I would rather be suspended than injured, but everything is going well and I am running ahead of schedule.

"If I keep progressing the way I am I will definitely be ready. I am looking at training on Sunday and then joining in with everybody on Monday."

Having Jones ready will be a relief for boss Martin Hinshelwood.

His small squad has been hit by injuries during pre-season, including key pair Michel Kuipers (thigh) and Bobby Zamora (groin).

The left-footed Jones increases Hinshelwood's midfield options.

Jones, sidelined from Tuesday's jolting 4-2 defeat at Cheltenham, is confident Albion can achieve their main goal of staying up with something to spare.

"We have a really great challenge ahead of us and you never know what is going to happen," he said.

"It's a bit of an unknown quantity for everyone, but we won't be content with trying to finish fourth bottom.

"If we do that is an achievement, but we will be trying to finish 17th, then 16th and so on.

"You can guarantee we will all be working as hard as we possibly can and I think a lot are going to rise to the challenge."

Meanwhile, Leicester City's suspended midfielder Dennis Wise will learn his fate in the next 48 hours after being sent home from the club's trip to Finland by boss Micky Adams.

The Leicester board met yesterday afternoon to discuss the incident. Wise is expected to part company with the club.

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