Midfielder Tommy Fraser has thanked Albion's physio for keeping his run of first-team starts alive.

Fraser was out there at kick-off for the fourth game in succession as the Seagulls battled out a 0-0 draw with Luton on Tuesday.

That did not look likely when he pulled up injured on the morning of the game and had his left ankle encased in a protective boot.

Physio Malcolm Stuart set to work and Fraser successfully got through 90 energetic minutes against the Hatters.

With Tommy Elphick and Adam Virgo also playing their part having been rated doubtful, and David Livermore making his comeback from a lay-off, it was a good day for the medical staff even if the result was not great.

Just as well, really, given the stretched nature of the squad.

Fraser was back in the big boot after the game and wondering when the painkillers were going to work off.

But he is determined to be in the thick of what looks a key League One fixture at Cheltenham on Saturday and keen to see the physio recognised for his efforts.

Alarm bells rang just as the players were starting a morning session at their Falmer training base.

Fraser said: “It was a freak accident. I just rolled my ankle as I was warming up after about two minutes on the pitch.

“I tweaked a couple of fibres in the ligament in my ankle.

“Malcolm Stuart worked absolute wonders. He deserved all the credit he gets, him and Matt Miller.

“They were giving me treatment, kept it compressed to stop the swelling coming out and it worked.

“I went home and had a sleep and kept my foot up, resting and icing it, but I was at the club most of the day.

“I had a fitness test at half-past five.

“It was a big decision. I walked into the ground thinking I wasn’t going to play.

“Malcolm Stuart told me ‘Don’t rush it, if you can’t play, you can’t’.

“I managed to run and I thought ‘that’s all right’. I could kick a ball so I started the game.

“Then the adrenalin kicks in, as well as the painkillers, but I got through it.”

Virgo and Elphick were also still going at the end as Albion looked to huff and puff their way to a first-leg lead.

“Virgs and Tommy are two soldiers,” Fraser said. “They will play through anything.

“Tommy Elphick likes to think he’s a hero in a situation like this,” he said with a laugh before adding, “He has made a hell of recovery.

“You should see his ankle, it’s quite bad.

“He has played through a lot of pain. He has got a good pain threshold and he wants to be out there like all the other boys, playing and dying for the cause.”

Fraser’s commitment to the cause is not in question but it over-boiled in spectacular style after Leeds’ second goal on Saturday when he confronted team mate Glenn Murray.

He said that was now history and added: “I didn’t really see what all the fuss was about.”

However there was, he felt, a somewhat depressed feel at Withdean after recent results.

“There was bit of a negative attitude about the place but I think Luton might have thought they have already won the tie which I think swings it in our favour,” he said.

“I can’t wait to go up there now.

“For good spells of the game we were on top of them. We had some good chances.

“They had corners and free-kicks but I think we dealt with them well.

“We have done a lot of set pieces of late. The gaffer has been working on that, defending as well as attacking.”

Asked if he was referring to Albion’s fans when he talked about a negative attitude, Fraser said: “They pay their money, they can do what they want.

“All that matters is that the squad sticks together and gets through this and pick up some results.

“We need that little bit of luck and hopefully we will be all right.”