Adam Chicksen has warned fellow Albion signing Stephen Ward he will be pushing for his spot.

Chicksen wants to give head coach Oscar Garcia a selection headache by proving his worth now that he has recovered from injury.

The 22-year-old left-back, signed last month from MK Dons, twisted an ankle in the Seagulls’ pre-season friendly against La Liga outfit Villarreal.

He was involved in the first team for the first time as substitute cover for experienced Wolves loanee Ward in Saturday’s 2-0 home win against Burnley.

Now Chicksen, whose capture was lined up prior to Oscar’s appointment, wants to show the Spaniard what he is capable of after a couple of outings in the development team.

Chicksen told The Argus: “I feel like I am fully fit again and firing. Hopefully I can now start putting a doubt in the manager’s mind to get back in the team.

“I am creeping back into contention. That’s what I want to do, get my head down and work hard and put it in his mind that I am definitely here to play games.”

Ward followed Chicksen through The Amex entrance after Wayne Bridge joined Reading in June and Albion released Marcos Painter, who is now at Portsmouth.

Chicksen said: “There are no hard feelings or anything like that, if you want to get promoted you’ve got to have players come in and strengthen the squad. That’s what you want, competition.

“I want to push Wardy for a place in the team every step of the way. I’m sure he will do the same.

“I’ll be watching Wardy in training, taking bits off him and hopefully I can keep pushing him, because that’s the way we are going to win games.”