Bobby Zamora is convinced Albion can prosper in the Second Division next season, with or without him.

The Seagulls' crocked marksman has already had a close-up view of Division Two with his former club Bristol Rovers.

He watched them blow promotion last season after returning from his loan spell with Albion.

Now Rovers are in danger of dropping into the Third, but Zamora does not expect the promotion-bound Seagulls to rejoin his old chums in the basement.

Zamora said: "I think we will do really well in the Second Division. We have got some quality players here and I see no reason why we cannot stay up.

"They keep the ball a little better than some of the other clubs in the Third Division, but that is about it really."

Whether Zamora is still spearheading the Albion attack at the higher level remains to be seen.

They have already rejected bids of £1.5 million from Wigan and £1.2 million from Cardiff for the 20-year-old hotshot.

It would not be the biggest surprise in the world if the Seagulls receive an offer in the summer they cannot refuse.

Boss Micky Adams is also almost certain to be the subject of further speculation during the close season.

QPR were reportedly interested in him before appointing Ian Holloway and Adams was touted as a possible candidate for the post at his old club Southampton.

Zamora is more relieved than most by Adams' declaration to the Argus last week that "I have got a job to do here" and Stuart Gray's caretaker role at the Dell for the rest of the campaign.

He has great respect for the manager who snapped him up from Rovers for a paltry £100,000 just before the start of the season.

Zamora said: "Micky is a great manager. I think he could take a bigger club places, but he is obviously committed to Brighton and that is good to hear."

So is Zamora until he is told differently. His only concern at the moment is getting fit again. His joy at calmly lobbing his 25th goal of the season against Mansfield at Withdean last Saturday quickly turned to pain.

A broken finger on his right hand, sustained in freak circumstances, and a twisted right ankle ruled him out at Rochdale on Tuesday night.

Zamora said: "Kerry Mayo just tried to get the ball into the box, I was a bit too close to him and put my hand up to block it.

"It all happened so quickly. It was a bit sore, but I didn't think it was broken. I thought I had just bent it back until an X-ray on Monday showed it was. My ankle was swollen and there was a bit of bruising, but I don't think that will be too much of a problem."

Until that point Zamora had enjoyed an injury-free campaign. The only previous match he had missed was through suspension at Barnet on Boxing Day. Now another prolific spurt of four goals in his last three appearances has been interrupted, along with the chance to get a little extra help for his tally from the Halifax on Saturday.

He considers the first of his two goals against Halifax at Withdean in December, an angled left-foot volley from just inside the box, to be the best he has ever scored.

"That is definitely one which sticks in my mind," Zamora said. "Missing these games means less of an opportunity to score goals and play well.

"It has been going really well, but as long as the boys go out and get the three points it doesn't matter who scores."

Zamora's exploits have substantially exceded his own expectations. He still has a good opportunity of reaching his revised target, to become the first Albion player to score 30 goals in a season since Garry Nelson in 1987-88.

Zamora said: "When I signed I thought we would definitely be up there in the play-off places. We have proved we are a quality side.

"As for myself, I set my target at ten or 15 goals. Any more is a bonus now. It would be nice if I could double my target to 30. Obviously the injury is a bit , but promotion is the biggest thing."