Albion's capture of Beram Kayal has called into question another of the summer transfer window signings.

Danny Holla was a significant exclusion from Chris Hughton's squad for the successive 0-0 draws at Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday.

The Dutchman's prospects of forcing his way back in are weakened by the return to fitness of Dale Stephens.

The versatile Greg Halford and Jake Forster-Caskey, who started against Cardiff but was left out of the 18 on Saturday, are further options in the midfield congestion which reduce Holla's chances of featuring in Hughton's future plans.

Holla appears to be in danger of becoming a further damning indictment of the summer business conducted by a combination of axed head of football David Burke, Hughton's predecessor Sami Hyypia and chairman and owner Tony Bloom.

Adrian Colunga and Nzuzi Toko have already departed and Paddy McCourt is out of contention. Even under Hyypia, Holla was not a regular.

The defensive midfielder signed as a free agent two games into the season following spells in Holland with Groningen and Den Haag was on the outside looking in throughout November and the first half of December.

He struggled, by his own admission, after an encouraging start to cope with the physical demands and intensity of the Championship.

He has looked accomplished in possession and with set piece deliveries at times but the extra competition provided by the more mobile Kayal and Stephens, together with the form of Rohan Ince who has started every game under Hughton, could limit Holla's opportunities.

Albion's Summer Business

David Stockdale: £1m from Fulham, 3yr contract, 28 apps

Aaron Hughes: Free from QPR, 1yr contract, 10 apps

Joe Bennett: Loan from Aston Villa, 26 apps

Nzuzi Toko: Free from Grasshoppers, 3yr contract (cancelled), 0 apps

Danny Holla: Free from Den Haag, 3yr contract, 20 apps

Gary Gardner: Loan from Aston Villa, 17 apps

Joao Teixeira: Loan from Liverpool, 21 apps

Paddy McCourt: Free from Barnsley, 1yr contract, 10 sub apps

Sam Baldock: £1.5m from Bristol City, 4yr contract, 16 apps, 2 goals

Adrian Colunga: Undisclosed from Getafe, 2yr contract (loaned to Granada), 17 apps, 3 goals

Chris O'Grady: £500,000 from Barnsley, 3yr contract, 15 apps, 0 goals

* apps are league only