There could be easier circumstances in which to make your long-awaited Albion comeback but a trip to Norwich, the great under-achievers of the Championship this season, holds no terrors for Adam Hinshelwood.

He cannot wait for the kick-off at Carrow Road and his first taste of first team action for 11 months.

Hinshelwood suffered serious right knee ligament damage against Reading at Withdean last March.

The versatile prospect, capable of playing at the back or in midfield, is expected to feature tonight in the absences of the suspended Dean Hammond and injured Seb Carole after easing his way into contention with a few Reserve team run-outs.

Hinshelwood, an unused sub for Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by relegation rivals Leicester and at Coventry the week before, said: "It's a great feeling.

"I've had a great tester by being involved again on the bench for the last couple of games and I'm chomping at the bit.

"I've had no real reaction with the knee. After training if I strike too many balls it aches a little, so I have to be careful with that. Otherwise it feels strong, so I'm ready to go."

Hinshelwood's abrasive qualities are likely to be used in the centre of the park following Hammond's unfortunate late red card for a second foul on Leicester's Joey Gudjonsson.

The 22-year-old, better known as a centre half or rightback, said: "I would play anywhere to be honest, you could put me up front!

"It doesn't bother me. All I can do is go out and give 100 per cent and see how far that takes us."

Norwich, relegated from the Premiership on the final day last season, have struggled to recapture the form which saw them win the League by eight points in 2003-2004.

Nigel Worthington's squad is still crammed with Championship quality, despite Dean Ashton's big money move to West Ham, but they are reeling from four home defeats on the trot, the latest against arch-rivals Ipswich.

Hinshelwood and his colleagues hope to capitalise on the anxiety engulfing Carrow Road as Albion bid to end a five-match losing run on the road.

"You want to play at these sort of stadiums against top players and top clubs," Hinshelwood said. "That is the case tonight.

"It could be easier but these are the places we want to go to and that is why we are going to do our utmost to stay in this division.

"I've been quite encouraged by some of the football we have played, especially at Coventry in the first half.

"If we get a couple of breaks, like we did for our goal against Leicester, then we can turn it around into a point or maybe even a win.

"We are all remaining positive that we can get out of the position we are in.

We are good enough, it's just about getting that belief back."

Carole will miss Saturday's visit by high-flying Watford as well after the French trickster was forced off in the second half against Leicester by a recurrence of left ankle trouble.

Manager Mark McGhee said: "Although it's not a major injury, it will take maybe ten days to work itself out.

"Seb has done well but the fact is we have not been winning games with him in the team.

"Seb's not playing, Dean Hammond is not playing but, prior to Adam Hinshelwood getting injured, he was a fixture in the team and becoming a very good player.

"Hopefully he can contribute. He is dying for the opportunity. Alex Nicolas (knee) maybe needs a little bit more football but might have to be risked and there is Kerry Mayo, who had a tremendous game in midfield at Southampton, so we're not short of options."

The defeat by Leicester, in which Albion uncharacteristically gave away two soft goals in the opening five minutes, has not shaken McGhee's belief that the Seagulls can survive.

He said: "We have not normally given away poor goals, so I think you have to look at Saturday in isolation, even though obviously it is part of the defeats we've had.

"For most of the Leicester game we were the better team and, I think, deserved something, so we have got to look at the positives from it and put it behind us."