Ashley Barnes has revealed he would love to welcome back Albion’s outgoing loan star.

Craig Conway plays the final game of three-month stint with the Seagulls at Middlesbrough on Saturday before heading back to parent club Cardiff.

Assistant head coach Nathan Jones yesterday hinted the Scottish flyer could be back in January.

And Barnes would welcome such a move.

Albion’s in-form striker said: “Craig is a fantastic player.

“He has got great quality. He was at Cardiff and they didn’t sign him for no reason.

“They got promoted and he was a big part of that last season.

“It would be great if he could stay but obviously it’s about what he wants and what the clubs want.”

Conway has improved game by game in his three months with the Seagulls and is unlikely to break into Cardiff’s 25-man Premier League squad next month.

Jones said: “He has got better in terms of productivity as his loan goes on and that is normal.

“It’s sad he has got go back because we would like to keep him but hopefully, God willing, it won’t be the last we see of Craig Conway.