Albion will not be rushing Andrea Orlandi back into action – despite losing Craig Conway.

Orlandi has played less than three hours of football for the Seagulls this season, due to knee cartilage surgery.

The club are reluctant to push the versatile Spaniard too hard after two aborted comebacks. Conway’s loan spell from Cardiff ended with Saturday’s 1-0 win at Middlesbrough.

The Scotland international left-winger was signed after Orlandi’s return from knee damage sustained in the opening day defeat at Leeds lasted only 45 minutes as a substitute against Millwall at the end of August.

Orlandi, 29, has suffered swelling to the knee since his comeback from an operation as a second-half sub at Bournemouth last month.

Kazenga LuaLua, another victim of knee surgery, has come off the bench in the last two matches, a timely return to fitness which eases the situation with Orlandi.

Nathan Jones, Albion’s assistant head coach, told The Argus: “We are just playing it by ear. It’s not a luxury as such but we are in a decent position now where we haven’t got to rush him (Orlandi) and force him and put him in any jeopardy.

“We’ve got to treat him gently. He’s important to us. We’re really looking forward to getting him back but we want a fully fit Andrea, not one that is makeshift, just to get through, because that’s not good for him or for us either.”