Albion boss Russell Slade has backed newcomer Elliott Bennett to fast-track the Seagulls to recovery with his searing pace.
The 20-year-old winger goes straight into contention at home to Stockport County tomorrow after signing from Wolves for an undisclosed fee.
Slade has been tracking Bennett all summer. His capture on a three-year contract is a timely lift following Tuesday’s 7-1 drubbing at Huddersfield.
Slade said: “It has taken some time to get this one done, I think mainly because Wolves were still very keen on him and he wasn’t available, other than a possible loan.
“Then he was made available and eventually we managed to make the signing we wanted.
“He gives us much-needed pace. He’s a good player technically, as you would expect coming from Wolves, and we are delighted to get hold of him.”
The uncertainty surrounding the future of the unsettled Glenn Murray, one of six former Stockport players in Albion’s ranks, is destined to rumble on.
Murray faces another hernia operation, delaying his hopes of a move back north.
Slade revealed: “Glenn will go in for surgery on that groin, the original groin he had surgery on in Germany before I arrived.
“Sadly that needs to be done. We are hoping in terms of time period that it will only be three weeks.”
Liam Dickinson is fit to lead the attack against his old club tomorrow but Andrew Crofts is a doubt. The midfielder sustained a cut and bruising below the knee in a bad tackle by Andy Butler in the closing stages at Huddersfield, which Albion felt should have been punished more severely than a yellow card.
Scot Graeme Smith takes over in goal from the banned Michel Kuipers after an instant booking, a penalty save and conceding five goals on his debut in place of the red carded Dutchman on Tuesday.
Slade said: “I don’t think he will forget it, do you? He has an opportunity now and I am sure he is well aware of that.
“He will be after a clean sheet. I am, so we have something in common.”
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