Alan Navarro is already Albion’s leading central midfielder, at least in terms of minutes on the pitch.

Matt Thornhill lasted only until the break on his debut against Walsall at Withdean on Saturday.

Former Wales international Andrew Crofts followed suit on his away debut at Swansea in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

Both changes by Russell Slade were for tactical reasons, rather than due to injuries, but Navarro is not living in fear about being next for the half-time chop.

The Liverpudlian is just grateful to have got through the opening two games after MK Dons’ unexpected decision to release him left him looking for a club and lagging behind in his pre-season preparations.

Navarro said: “I am settling in okay. Hopefully I will get fitter with the games I am playing.

“It’s good to get the 90 minutes under my belt. Training by myself for a couple of weeks wasn’t easy but training every day and playing is doing me the world of good.

“I was a little bit surprised to start the first game but, if the gaffer puts me in, I am there to do a job and do the best for my team.

“In the last ten or 15 minutes against Walsall my legs had gone and he (Slade) knew. The heat killed me but I will get stronger and fitter and I will get there.”

Six of Albion’s ten summer signings have been involved so far and, after so many changes, Navarro insists it is far too early to make any meaningful judgments.

He said: “We are only one league game into the season. Maybe fans panic a little bit but, once the season settles down and we gel a bit more, then hopefully we will get the results we need.

“It’s just about partnerships on the pitch, knowing what the man next to you is all about and what his strengths are.

“It might take a couple of weeks before people get to know each other better but it will come.

“It’s only after six or seven games that the league starts settling down.

“At MK Dons we lost the first couple of games (2007-08) and were fourth from bottom but ended up winning the league so things change.”

Navarro’s old club finished third in League One last season after taking the League Two title.

Tomorrow’s hosts Brentford are hoping for similar success after making the same step up.

Albion have lost 1-0, 4-0, 4-0 and 2-0 on their last four league visits to Griffin Park and Navarro knows from playing there with MK Dons that Brentford’s tight home pitch is a tricky place to be going to in search of your first points.

He said: “They’ve had a season of winning, which gives you momentum to go into the next season.

“People have got to realise there are not going to be any easy games in this league.

“We have got to go there and expect a battle first before we can maybe try to get the ball down and play.”