Albion marksman Craig Mackail-Smith has been urged to make Leeds United manager Neil Warnock regret his visit to The Amex tonight.

The Yorkshiremen and Norwich came close to buying Mackail-Smith during the August transfer window.

Now Albion boss Gus Poyet wants Warnock (inset) to leave the South Coast wondering what might have been. Poyet admitted: “Leeds were very interested in Macca. “There was a moment when it looked like he had a big chance to go. Luckily we were able to keep him.

“Let’s hope Macca has a good game and gets back to scoring goals, then probably Neil will go back thinking about why he didn’t get him. That would be a good sign.”

Mackail-Smith scored in both matches against Leeds last season, including twice in the 3-3 draw at The Amex.

He has not hit the target since returning from hamstring trouble but still has six goals in ten games.

“That’s the key,” said Poyet. “That is why he is so good and why people want him and would like to buy him probably every transfer window.

“We had the same situation in the past with Nooney (Craig Noone) and Elliott Bennett. It becomes a problem for the team you are playing for but it’s important that he is here.

“Until January, at least, we are relaxed. There are times when the right amount of money is coming for a player and the player is going to get his own rewards for that. I am not the type of manager to tell a player you cannot go.”