Albion boss Gus Poyet is hopeful two of his key defenders will give him a birthday present by proving their fitness for Huddersfield.


  Wayne Bridge (calf) and Adam El-Abd (hamstring) are both fighting to be available for Saturday's trip to Yorkshire.


  El-Abd caught Poyet's eye in training at The Amex yesterday, while Bridge has been to Germany with club doctor Helge Riepenhof.


  Poyet, 45 today, said: "Adam El-Abd was non-stop, running around the pitch, sprinting, jumping. Every time you looked he was doing something, so he looks fit to me. Whether the medical staff agree with me or not could be different.


  "We went through a full test with Wayne. We took him to Germany with the doc. We checked also the problem he's had in the past, because we had the opportunity. We'll see. I've got a good feeling but it's not about my feelings, it's about them."

 

  Poyet said it is too early to open talks with on-loan Bridge about staying with the Seagulls beyond the end of the season.

 

  * Full story in tomorrow's Argus, plus why Poyet wants the loan system changed.