Albion will look at tactical variations in a bid to get back on the goal trail.

But their options will be limited - even if Julio Enciso passes a fitness test today.

The Seagulls go into their tough-looking six-match run-in having scored just four goals (two of them own goals) in seven Premier League matches since hitting five at Sheffield United.

Or, put another way, since the last time we saw Kaoru Mitoma.

A couple of Danny Welbeck wonder strikes and a late Lewis Dunk header have contributed to a tally of five goals in their last ten outings across all competitions.

Not quite the form you would hope for as you look to give Manchester City a few jitters in the title race.

But they will be working to put things right.

Roberto De Zerbi recognised in the last answer he gave before departing Turf Moor and heading into a 12-day gap between fixtures that his side must be better in the last 20 metres.

He made a similar point in one of his first answers as we reconvened for yesterday’s press conference ahead of the City game.

So, as they came to us members of the written press for follow-up questions, there was an obvious line of enquiry.

How, with the players currently available, do Albion make that improvement at the sharp end?

How can you improve in your last 20 metres – change of personnel, tactics, attitude?

De Zerbi replied: “Attitude? I think no. My players are great in every training, in every session, in every game.

“I think Mitoma and (Solly) March are different players and then Facundo (Buonanotte), Julio Enciso for different reasons but they can improve.

“Adam Lallana can’t play every game but the knowledge of Adam between the lines, for example, is different to other players.

“Simon Adingra is still very young and he can improve.

“He is improving, he is playing a good season but he is different to Kaoru Mitoma.

“And Facundo is different to Solly March.

“Joao Pedro, I think, is improving.

“We missed him a lot with his injuries in February and March.

“Now he can play but we have to organise the offensive phase.

“Maybe we can change something in the structure.

“Not in the style but in the tactical disposition.

“Maybe tomorrow, maybe in the next future, maybe next season, I don’t know.”

We know De Zerbi can come up with tactical plans.

Such a mission is right up his street but he needs more tools than he currently has.

The way he masterminded a win over Tottenham without wingers and full-backs has gone down in folklore.

He has had time on which to work on a few things but there would appear to be only so many choices.

Danny Welbeck led the attack with Joao Pedro on the left, Adingra on the right and Jakub Moder pushing forward from midfield last time out at Burnley.

As he pointed out yesterday, Lallana is a clever operator.

He will not play two games in four days so is this the best opportunity to use his know-how?

Albion are not just missing players. They are missing versatile players such as James Milner, March and Jack Hinshelwood.

Further back, he has Igor, who is at home on the left of a back three, but no wing-backs.

Alternatively, he has Joel Veltman, who is at his best at right-back in a four.

So decisions to make.

De Zerbi said: “This season has been very tough especially after January.

“We are seeing too many injuries, too many injuries to key players.

“The season isn’t finished. I wanted to compete in a different way in this last three months but we have to accept [the situation].

“Next season we will have more experience because we have experienced this tough period.

“We still have to play against top teams in the Premier League.

“We play against a lot of teams higher than us, but we try to win games.

“First of all we have to perform better, we have to be stronger in the last 20 metres and to give our best.

“More than give our best, we can’t do.”