Will Buckley says there is no reason for him to leave Albion after an awkward January.

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet targeted his former winger during the transfer window.

Arch-rivals Crystal Palace were also linked with Buckley in January, when he was sidelined by more hamstring trouble.

Buckley, who signed a new four-and-a-half year contract 14 months ago, told The Argus: “The training ground is going to be ready. Brighton is a club that is going forward.

“I said that when I signed and it still is, so there is no reason for me to be looking elsewhere at the moment.”

Buckley is in contention for his first Championship start of 2014 against QPR at the Amex tonight.

The 25-year-old’s last league start was at Blackpool at the end of December just before the transfer window opened, when he suffered another hamstring problem.

He admitted: “It was a strange time. I just wanted to get back playing. That is the most frustrating part, when you want to be helping the team and you can’t because of slight injuries.

“You try and say it doesn’t affect you but it probably does in a way, so just getting back on the field is the best policy.”