Albion boss Gus Poyet has hailed Adam El-Abd as his best defender.

Poyet has been impressed since taking charge by El-Abd’s performances as a makeshift left-back.

The Brighton-born powerhouse has started the last 11 matches under former manager Russell Slade and now Poyet after Jimmy McNulty suffered a recurrence of ankle damage.

Poyet said: “He has been our best defender without any doubt. My idea is not to have one person very good at something without the help of the rest.

“His understanding of what I want from a full-back and his relationship with Tommy (Elphick) in the defensive department has been excellent.

“That is why he has been playing and that maybe is why we missed him in that five or seven minutes when he was off the pitch against Colchester on Friday.”

Colchester scored their second goal while El-Abd was receiving treatment for a cheekbone wound which prevented him from returning and required three stitches.

He trained yesterday without any problems and will be available for Poyet’s return to Swindon on Saturday.

McNulty eventually replaced El-Abd for his longest spell on the pitch since his 90-minute league comeback from a kidney removal in the home win against Gillingham two months ago.

“It was a very easy decision to put Jimmy on,” Poyet said. “He gives us more offensive options anyway.

“We didn’t play Jimmy from the beginning in any position, because of his fitness. In the end he played for 75 minutes.

“It was a little bit of a risk. I think in the situation we were in we had to take that risk.

“I thought he did very well. He was strong in possession and very brave on the ball.”