Christian Walton has been given a massive confidence boost by Albion No.1 David Stockdale as he begins his recovery from injury.

Walton pulled out of the England under-21 squad and is back at Lancing after cutting short his loan at Bury with a groin problem.

The highly-rated teenager had a challenging time at Gigg Lane, although it did not prevent Gareth Southgate calling him up for international duty.

He is likely to go out on loan again once he has proved his fitness while Niki Maenpaa, currently away with Finland, continues as Stockdale’s immediate understudy.

Stockdale, in fine form in the Championship, said of Walton: “People forget he’s 19 and most of our changing room would love to be 19 again.

“It’s tough. He’s going to make mistakes, I’m going to make mistakes, Niki is going to make mistakes.

“There’s no getting past it. It’s how he deals with it mentally.

“He’s a good kid, a great lad, and I fully believe he will come out of it even better and fulfil the potential we all know he’s got.”

Albion are studying options to add to their squad when the loan window opens on Wednesday.

Walton might not be the only player for whom they seek a loan move away from the Amex to follow striker Chris O’Grady, who is with Nottingham Forest for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, Solly March and Jake Forster-Caskey remain with the England under-21 squad who face the USA at Deepdale tonight in a friendly.