Robbie Savage is moving ever closer to joining Albion on loan.
Crewe’s lack of interest in their former midfielder has cleared the way for Savage to link up with the Seagulls.
Savage is out of the first team picture at Derby and desperate to get back playing. The Cheshire-based former Welsh international would ideally have preferred to stay closer to home with his wife and two young sons, which is why a return to Crewe appealed to him.
That has been ruled out by Derby chief Paul Jewell, who revealed: “There is nothing in the Crewe thing at all. I’ve had no contact from Crewe but Brighton want him. We’ll have to wait and see – it will be Robbie’s decision.”
The Argus were first to reveal Albion’s interest in Savage last week. Boss Micky Adams worked with the 33-year-old at Leicester and is keen to exploit his pugnacious qualities in the quest to climb the League One table.
Savage is not currently part of Jewell’s plans and Derby are prepared to pay a chunk of his £24,000 a week wages to facilitate the move.
If Savage signs it would represent quite a coup for Albion. He has spent the lion’s share of a colourful career in the Premier League with Leicester, Birmingham and Blackburn.
Meanwhile, Albion vice-captain Steven Thomson is in danger of missing his first home match of the season. The Scottish midfielder is the worst affected by a virus which swept through the camp over the weekend.
Thomson missed the 2-2 draw at Northampton and he faces a race against time to be ready for Saturday’s visit by Cheltenham.
Colin Hawkins, another of the virus victims, was sent home by the club doctor yesterday after making his comeback from hernia surgery at Northampton.
The other sufferers, Adam Virgo, Andrew Whing and Gary Hart, have all recovered. Stand-in skipper Virgo and Whing played the full 90 minutes at Northampton, while Hart was sent home with Thomson. Nicky Forster is likely to be leading the side back out again against Cheltenham.
The veteran striker trained yesterday after returning from a thigh injury as a second-half substitute on Saturday.
The Cheltenham clash will come too early for Kevin McLeod following his knee operation less than a fortnight ago.
The former Colchester winger is expected to make his comeback in next Tuesday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie at home to Leyton Orient. Ex-Hibernian midfielder Brian Kerr will not feature for the reserves in the Sussex Senior Cup at Crawley tonight.
Manager Micky Adams decided Kerr is not what he is looking for after a 48-hour trial. Bob Booker’s line-up will include several scholars, with the squad diminished last week by loan deals involving fringe members of the squad.
Joel Lynch, an unused sub for Nottingham Forest in their 1-0 defeat at Plymouth on Saturday, could make his debut for the side propping up the Championship at Sheffield Wednesday tonight.
Jonny Dixon made his first appearance for Lewes’s next opponents, Grays, as a second-half substitute in Sunday’s last-gasp 1-0 defeat at Cambridge United.
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