Anthony Knockaert's contribution to Albion's fight for Premier League survival has been defended by boss Chris Hughton.

Hughton says the French winger has lost none of his appetite - he is just up against better players.

Knockaert starred in Albion's promotion last year.

The demonstrative right-winger scored 15 goals and provided assists galore to be crowned Championship player of the season.

It has been much harder going for Knockaert in the Premier League after an ankle injury ten minutes into the opening pre-season friendly last summer.

He has scored only twice, at home to Everton in October and Bournemouth on New Year's Day, and has one assist.

He was even left out of the squad for last month's defeat at Huddersfield.

Hughton (below left) told The Argus: "I think it's easy to assess it. If you are comparing last season and this season, if you have a player that's not working as hard as what he did last year, you can put it down to that.

The Argus: "That's one we've ruled out because he is working as hard and his levels and what we get from our fitness fellas is the same as last season.

"He is up against good players and particularly when you are a side that generally play with two wingers, if you're a wide player then probably what he got away with last season it's more difficult to get away with.

"So it's only the levels. Any striker we have this season would not have scored as many goals as last season so it comes with the levels.

"But he is giving us a contribution for the team. He is trying, he is trying to get crosses in as often as he can.

"Some of those moments he produced last season, he can still produce but of course it's harder."

Albion have scored in eight of their 11 home games but opponents have also found a way through in seven of them.

The Argus: Saturday's visitors Chelsea (12.30) have hit the target only once in four matches in all competitions but Eden Hazard (above) is an obvious threat for the injury and suspension-hit champions.

Hughton rates the Belgian wizard as one of the top creative forces in the Premier League.

He said: "The difficulty is there are a few. With Hazard, every time he receives the ball in the final third then there is a huge threat that there could be an end product.

"I can't say he is the best, because there are so many. I couldn't tell who is the best, but he is right up there.

"For the last few seasons he has gone to, I think, another level.

"You have to have a team structure (to stop him). That helps but if you are facing him on a one v one and diving in, he is going to be going past you.

"You have to be aware of him individually. There are some players that have a brilliant turn of pace off the mark, directional.

"They have another one in Willian who is the same, but there aren't many around that have that pace and change of direction that he (Hazard) has. He's very difficult to mark."

Albion are trying to break their duck against one of the Big Six. Huddersfield had a shock home win against Manchester United earlier in the season and Newcastle - the other side promoted - picked up a point at home to Liverpool.

Do Albion need a bonus point, or points, from the big guns to survive? "Maybe," said Hughton.

"We have still got to play a lot of the top six, some at the Amex. That could be the case, it's impossible to tell, because if we got enough results against the teams around us we possibly wouldn't need that one."