Liam Rosenior has missed 30 of Albion's 34 Championship matches through injury this season, on top of 13 last season - but he still feels "lucky".

Publicly, the sun is always shining in Rosenior's world.

Privately, the articulate, ultra-positive father-of-four admits his American wife Erika has born the brunt of the double injury blow which has blighted his career so far with the Seagulls.

Last season, knee ligament damage sustained in a home win over Birmingham in November (below) ruled Rosenior out until February.

The Argus: In August, four games into the new campaign, he was the victim of a tackle by French striker Yann Kermorgant in the closing stages of the 2-2 draw with Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Rosenior suffered an ankle fracture and ligament damage. He is back in contention at Nottingham Forest tomorrow for the first time since that summer afternoon in Berkshire with his naturally cheerful disposition intact, in spite of the setbacks, although he conceded: "Ask my wife, she gets the wrong side of me for sure!

"This has been the best season of my career and the worst at the same time.

"I have watched the players play so well, week in, week out. I see the spirit and togetherness that we have created since I've been at the club.

 

"Hopefully, people see my part in that. That's not important, whether I am a part of it or not, but I do feel a part of it still being off the pitch.

"It's been difficult, but at the same time how lucky am I to be a professional footballer? To go into work every day to the training facilities we have here.

"How lucky am I to play in front of 20-30,000 people every week when I am fit?

"I've got to enjoy the good things and the bad things and, being a professional footballer, you go through highs and lows pretty much every week."

The Argus: There was a painful reminder for Rosenior of his misfortune (above) at the Amex last Saturday when promotion rivals Reading - one of the seven clubs he has served - were the visitors.

He did not speak to Kermorgant, but he does not bear a grudge. That is not the 32-year-old's style.

"No, I didn't, not out of choice," he said. "I just wanted the team to win. It was a bad tackle - I think even he would admit that - but I don't think he would ever have thought it would keep me out for this long.

"I've been in the same position myself. I injured Greg Cunningham, I broke his leg about five or six years ago.

"It was the worst feeling in my career. It wasn't intentional. I felt terrible at the time, I still do now, but Greg's back playing (for Preston) which is great and I know it will be the same for me."

Rosenior would have been back in contention sooner but for a setback in training in January, seized upon on social media.

He said: "I twisted the same ankle and, just for a precaution, it was my decision, I just wanted to keep the weight off it, so I took crutches to the car.

"About four or five hours later it was all over Twitter! I don't know how that happened - there must be eyes everywhere.

"I am not going to lie, it's been a difficult rehab, by far the most difficult rehab of my career."