Albion boss Sami Hyypia has urged Craig Mackail-Smith to be more patient after his injury problems.
Mackail-Smith had to wait until midway through the second half for game time against his old club Peterborough on Saturday.
He scored in each of the Seagulls’ opening three pre-season friendlies after returning in April from 13 months out with Achilles and ankle damage.
Hyypia told The Argus: “It’s great to see him back. I think sometimes he is not patient enough, because it’s not easy after a long-term injury to come back in the form you were in before.
“He is working hard to get that form back and sometimes he frustrates himself a little bit too much. It will come.”
Hyypia is looking for an injection of confidence for his players from Southampton’s visit to the Amex tomorrow night, which will mark the debut of new goalkeeper David Stockdale.
It is Albion’s final pre-season game before launching their Championship campaign at home to Sheffield Wednesday a week on Saturday.
Hyypia said: “If you win this kind of game it would give us a lot of confidence going into the season but the real challenge comes on the ninth of August.
“I want to win the game against Southampton as well and I want the team to do the right things on the pitch.
“When the team gives everything they have and they understand a little bit more then I’m happy, then the ninth is the challenge when the result really starts to count.”
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