Liam Bridcutt, Albion's want-away midfielder, is back in first team contention.

But head coach Oscar Garcia is keeping his cards close to his chest as to whether Bridcutt will return to the squad at Derby tomorrow.

Bridcutt missed the consecutive 1-0 home wins against Reading in the FA Cup and Birmingham last Saturday in the Championship with a groin injury.

Sunderland had a £2 million bid rejected for the Seagulls' reigning player of the year at the start of the January transfer window.

Bridcutt, seeking to link up again with former manager Gus Poyet, then handed in a transfer request which Albion rejected.

Head coach Oscar Garcia told The Argus today: "He's fit and he's available for selection. I know the team for tomorrow but the players will be the first to know the starting eleven."

Sunderland are expected to continue their pursuit of Bridcutt in an effort to land him before the window shuts in a fortnight, although their interest in him and Albion winger Will Buckley took a new twist this afternoon with the sacking by the Black Cats of their Italian director of football Roberto De Fanti.

Owner Ellis Short has reportedly taken the decision to axe De Fanti - without Poyet's knowledge - after he oversaw a succession of expensive signings during the reign of former manager Paolo Di Canio.