Adam El-Abd has been backed by Albion assistant Dean White to overcome a left-back crisis.

El-Abd will fill the problem position against Oldham at Withdean tomorrow, with Jim McNulty and Jake Wright both ruled out by ankle trouble.

The injury-plagued McNulty faces another four weeks on the sidelines after a scan revealed a repeat of ligament damage and bone bruising to the left ankle.

The same injury delayed McNulty’s comeback earlier in the season from the loss of a kidney.

Wright replaced him after he limped off at Tranmere last Saturday but now the former Crawley defender also has his left ankle in a protective brace after twisting it in training.

The versatile El-Abd missed out on a spot on the bench at Tranmere on his return from a three-match ban for a red card in the home defeat by MK Dons. He played at right-back in the reserves on Tuesday but will deputise on the other side of the defence in the absence of McNulty, Wright and Andrew Whing, who is back in training following hernia surgery but short of match fitness.

White said: “We have still got Adam, who has done a decent job there for us.

“He is one of those lads who always does it the right way. He is very professional and is happy to play in any position you ask him to, which is a real bonus for the club.

“Losing Jim and Jake is a massive blow to us but there is nothing you can do about injuries.

"They are part of football and you have to get on with it. It's no good making excuses."

Top scorer Nicky Forster will be back to lead the attack in place of the suspended Glenn Murray, providing he suffers no reaction to a nagging Achilles problem.

Forster resumed training yesterday after a minor hamstring injury ruled him out of the Tranmere defeat.

Midfielder Gary Dicker has recovered from a hip-flexor complaint but Craig Davies is ineligible to face his old club.

Davies returned 48 hours early from his loan spell at Yeovil, as he was not in contention for their game at Bristol Rovers.