Albion boss Oscar Garcia has admitted striker Ashley Barnes will be missed.

And he has urged the club’s scouting network to find him an effective replacement in the remaining three weeks of the January transfer window.

Barnes, 24, completed his move to Burnley yesterday on a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee in the region of £750,000 after stalling over a new deal offered by Albion in the summer.

 

Oscar, shrugging aside Barnes’ critics within the fanbase, told The Argus: “He can play in different positions, he always works hard for the team, he is always thinking about the team before himself.

“For a coach it’s always an important player to have, because he’s a good example for everybody.

“It’s his decision. I want to wish him all the best because he has been a good servant to the club.

“I am very happy to have been his coach and see him develop as a player. He is young and he can develop much more.

“I think we will miss his character, his hard work, but I would like to bring in a replacement for him.”

Cardiff striker Joe Mason is one of the Seagulls’ transfer targets as Oscar begins life without Barnes against in-form Birmingham City at The Amex today.

The Spaniard said: “We need to replace him. It's not easy but we have a lot of scouting to help with his decision.

“It’s the job of the scouting and the people working for the club to have in mind some targets. I have said before if someone leaves we have to replace him and this is the case now.”