Dale Stephens will not be involved in Albion's League Cup tie at Oxford United tomorrow night.

But the second round clash will mark the comeback of German centre-half Uwe Huenemeier after eight months out with groin damage.

Stephens missed Saturday's draw at Reading to catch up on training.

The midfielder, subject of three rejected transfer bids from Burnley, will not be in the squad at the Kassam Stadium either.

Hughton confirmed to The Argus: "No - but that's my choice. He has trained very well over the last couple of days.

"He missed a chunk of the pre-season and pre-season games. We felt it's important to get his levels back up. It's my choice not to involve him tomorrow but he has trained very well. We just need him to get back to those levels again."

 

Huenemeier (below right) has been out of action since suffering groin damage against Middlesbrough last December, which eventually required surgery.

The Argus: Fellow central defender Connor Goldson, sidelined since the pre-season training camp in Tenerife by a knee ligament problem, has been pencilled in for next Tuesday's Football League Trophy tie at Southend.

Hughton said: "We're not too far away with Connor. He is now training regularly.

"Uwe will be involved tomorrow night, which is a big bonus for us. Uwe will start tomorrow.

"So we've got two centre-halves that have been out for a period of time that are both very close."

Huenemeier is set to form a makeshift defence with rookies Rob Hunt, Ben White and Sam Adekugbe, all of whom were handed in their debuts in the first round win against Colchester when Hughton made 11 changes.

He is adopting a similar policy tomorrow night ahead of Saturday's trip to Newcastle as Albion wait for the results of a scan on the ankle injury suffered by right-back Liam Rosenior in the closing stages at Reading.