Oscar Garcia has revealed why David Lopez still has a big part to play in his team’s possession-based strategy.

But he admits the midfielder needs to up his game after a disappointing start to the campaign.

Albion’s head coach reckons his former Athletic Bilbao star can give the Seagulls an extra dimension when he is on song.

David has been a regular in Oscar’s injury-hit matchday squads but he was on the bench against Nottingham Forest and Ipswich recently.

Albion took just one point from their last three games before the international break and have several star players out injured.

Oscar feels David is still paying the price for the delay in his return to the club.

He said: “David had the problem of not having a pre-season.

“We all hope as soon as possible he can be the player he was last season.

“We will keep helping him and he is still a player who can help us.

“He is a different type of player who has good technical qualities and can help us keep possession of the ball.

“But all the players really need to step up because, with so many absentees, we all need to give 200%.”

Albion hope to have fellow midfielders Keith Andrews and Andrew Crofts back at full power when they go Yeovil next Saturday as they use the international break to rest niggles.