Albion boss Oscar Garcia has put fears of losing star players Liam Bridcutt and Leo Ulloa on the backburner as he prepares for the visit of Championship leaders Leicester.

The head coach says the sought-after pair will have a big say in where their futures lie in January.

But he wants them to stay and is happy to have them back in his plans until then.

Injury-hit Bridcutt makes only his third start of the season against Leicester at The Amex today, while Ulloa is edging closer to returning from the foot bone fracture which has sidelined him since October.

Arch rivals Crystal Palace had respective bids of £1.75 million and £5 million rejected for the Seagulls’ defensive midfield general and Argentine target man at the end of the August transfer window.

Fans fear former boss Gus Poyet will try to sign one or both of them for Sunderland and Bridcutt admitted yesterday it would be hard to turn down Premier League interest.

Oscar told The Argus: “They are key players for us but at the end of the day in football it is always up to the players to decide where they want to play.

“I would be very happy if they decided to stay with us, because for me they are key players. Now it's not a problem. We will see what happens in January and what we will do.

“It depends on the players and also on the clubs. I will be happy if they stay here. If not we will start thinking when it happens, not now.”

Albion's hopes of staving off interest from Sunderland in Bridcutt have been helped by the form of South Korean Ki Sung-Yueng in the defensive midfield role for the Black Cats on loan from Swansea.