Dale Stephens says the top six should be Albion’s minimum aim next season.

And he believes Chris Hughton is the man to deliver a return to the good times, despite mounting frustration over the struggle to secure survival.

Albion head to Wigan today with one win in eight games and no goals in the last four.

It is not what Stephens signed up for when he arrived from Charlton 15 months ago and helped them into the play-offs last season.

The fit-again midfielder told The Argus: “Hopefully we can cross the line this year and start afresh next season.

“Last year we didn’t have a massive squad and may have been a touch fortunate to get in on the last day but it’s possible.

“A group of players here have seen that and that’s got to be the aim. We’ve got to look to be getting minimum play-offs.”

Albion, outside the drop zone on goal difference when Hughton took over, have a seven-point cushion, although Millwall have a game in hand.

Stephens said: “He has come in and made a massive impression on everybody at the football club and everyone is excited to work with him, have a good, strong, pre-season and then kick on with a good start next year hopefully.”