Seb Pocognoli is fit for Albion's tilt at a third clean sheet on the trot in tomorrow night's top-of-the-table clash against Newcastle at the Amex.

The left-back on loan from West Brom for the season was taken off in the closing stages of Saturday's 3-0 home win over Reading to protect a slight groin injury sustained in the previous 2-0 victory at Barnsley.

Boss Chris Hughton revealed to The Argus this morning: "He's okay, but we felt that would be the case fairly quickly after the (Reading) game.

"He had a slight problem at Barnsley. In effect it was a bit more of a precaution, taking him off towards the end of the game, but Seb's fine which is good."

Pocognoli has been an effective replacement for first-choice left-back Gaetan Bong, who has been out since the start of the year with knee trouble.

Liam Rosenior, another experienced option, continues his comeback from injury in the under-23s against West Ham at the Lancing training complex today (1pm).

If Pocognoli had been ruled out then Albion would have been facing Newcastle with Fikayo Tomori as an emergency left-back.

The teenager on loan from Chelsea, who took over from Pocognoli against Reading, is better known as a right-back or central defender.

Meanwhile, Hughton has explained midfielder Oliver Norwood's (below) absence from the matchday squad for the last three matches.

The Argus: Becoming a first time dad and performing well without him has left the Northern Ireland international on the sidelines in the Championship for the first time this season.

Hughton said: "It's his first child and we are all delighted for him. That was initially (Ipswich and Barnsley) and then he was very much available for the last game (Reading), but we were on the back of a very good performance at Barnsley and my choice was not to change things."