Liam Rosenior's 28-week absence from the first team reckoning for Albion is over.

The experienced utility player is back in the squad for Saturday's trip to Nottingham Forest.

Rosenior, 32, has not played for the senior side since breaking an ankle and damaging ligaments at Reading in August.

His comeback was delayed by a training setback, but he is now ready after the latest in several run-outs for the under-23s on Monday.

Rosenior's return to contention is perfectly timed for the automatic promotion challenge to ease a left-back crisis.

Seb Pocognoli made an early exit from Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat against top-of-the-table rivals Newcastle with a groin issue initially sustained in the last away game at Barnsley.

 

On-loan Chelsea teenager Fikayo Tomori, better-known as a right-back or central defender, took over.

Boss Chris Hughton said today: "Seb just felt his groin very slightly. At this moment that probably means him missing Saturday's game. The good news is he has a chance and it's not too bad.

"We brought Tomori in, but we now have Rosenior back in the squad which is a boost for us.

"He played in an under-23 game on Monday and he's played in a few games. We've been waiting to get through a few hurdles wih him and I'm delighted to see him back in the squad."

Pocognoli has been deputising for first-choice left-back Gaetan Bong, ruled out since early early January by knee trouble.

Hughton said of Bong: "He's just outside, continuing his rehab work, and he's making good progress. We certainly don't expect to see him back for this first group of games, but we are very hopeful in the set of games after that he might be somewhere close."

Meanwhile, under-23s left-back Sam Adekugbe is back in training after a recurrence of hamstring trouble.

Albion face Forest, Rotherham away and Derby at home in the space of seven days before a trip to Leeds on March 18, which is followed by an international break and a seven-game April.