ALBION boss Chris Hughton may be forced to revise his transfer plans after losing broken leg victim Beram Kayal for up to ten weeks.

The Seagulls thought they had concluded their central midfield business with the £10 million club record capture on Monday of Dutchman Davy Propper.

Now Hughton is reassessing the situation after Kayal had surgery for the eighth time in his career yesterday on a broken fibula sustained in Sunday’s friendly defeat by Atletico Madrid.

“It’s one I have to think about,” Hughton told The Argus. “At the moment in central midfield Davy Propper, Dale Stephens and Steve Sidwell would be the three, with Pascal Gross who I have used as a ten but who has played there.

“It’s one that I will have to assess over these next few days. We are expecting Beram to be out anywhere between eight to ten weeks.”

The latest setback is a devastating blow for Kayal. The 29-year-old Israel international missed more than three months last season with a broken ankle.

He suffered a series of injuries at Celtic, including a broken ankle and damaged ligaments, a broken foot and a hernia. He also underwent surgery with first club Maccabi Haifa.

Hughton said: “The biggest blow is for him personally, because he’s been very good pre-season.

“He came back in really good shape, has done well in the pre-season games. I thought in the first half, which was a tough first half against Atletico, he was very good.

“For us it’s a big blow, because he is a very important member of the squad and of the team, but I feel more for him.

“For any player to be out for a period of time, particularly a few days before the season starts, is a tough one.”

Kayal is putting on a brave face. He said: “It’s never great to pick up an injury especially right before the season starts but I’m looking forward to working hard through my rehab and coming back stronger.”

Propper, Stephens and Gross are all likely to start Saturday’s Premier League opener against Manchester City at the Amex (5.30).

Albion will also be without Sam Baldock for the start of the season. The striker did not feature in any of the friendlies following summer calf surgery.

Hughton said: “Sam is back in part-training. We are still expecting him to be out for a little while.”