Dale Stephens is aiming to play his part in a goalscoring surge for Albion.

The struggle for goals ensured the threat of relegation from the Championship was never far away last season.

Stephens believes that could change this season. New signing Tomer Hemed is already showing signs of developing a strike partnership with the fit-again Sam Baldock.

Former Charlton midfielder Stephens wants to chip in as well alongside Hemed’s Israel international colleague Beram Kayal.

The pair and Hemed were all on target in Wednesday’s 3-0 friendly win at Crawley.

Stephens said: “That was obviously what we struggled with last year. Hopefully we’re going to change the dynamic of the team with the system we are going to play and get two goalscoring strikers up top.

“The partnership between Sam and Tomer looks good. Hopefully that can continue and can better.

“We showed at Crawley we can get goals from all over the park as well.”

Stephens’ spectacular, if slightly fortuitous, bicycle volley which opened the scoring at Crawley emphasised the Lancastrian is capable, together with Kayal in the engine room, of adding to the four goals he has scored in 30 appearances in an injury-interrupted 18 months with the Seagulls.

“I think it came slightly off my big toe but I’ll take that,” Stephens said. “We both showed we are good enough to get forward and do the defensive work as well.”

Stephens’ energy was missed by Albion both at the climax of his debut season with the club under Oscar Garcia in the play-offs and for the majority of last season under first Sami Hyypia, then Chris Hughton.

The 26-year-old only returned in February from ten months out with ankle nerve and ligament damage, sustained against Yeovil at the Amex at the end of the 2013-14 campaign.

Stephens says it feels like a fresh start after the injury issues which deprived him of game time for so long.

“I’d like to think they are all behind me,” he told The Argus. “I did a lot of work while I was injured and hopefully it has stood me in good stead for pre-season and the forthcoming season.

“I had a good break. I didn’t really have one last year, so I’ve made the most of this summer. I’ve come back refreshed and ready to go.

“To come in at the start of pre-season and train more or less every day is good. It has been refreshing as well to stay out of the gym for a little bit.

“I still do a programme to keep strengthening my ankle. I’ll probably be doing that for the rest of this year. It’s something I want to keep on top of, just to make sure there are no comebacks of the same injury.

“First and foremost I’m hoping to stay fit this year and build on what we had last year.”

The build-up to Nottingham Forest’s opening visit to the Amex on August 7 continues today at Aberdeen in a testimonial for their long-serving goalkeeper Jamie Langford.

The Scottish Premier League outfit have been hard at it since July 2, already playing four competitive fixtures in 21 days due to their involvement in the Europa League.

Stephens said: “Potentially they could be fitter than us but we want to test ourselves against better opposition every week. Sunday will be tough but we’re looking forward to it.”