Leroy Lita has called for a squad effort to keep depleted Albion in touch with the Championship pacesetters.

The on-loan striker and midfielder David Lopez both came off the bench to score late goals in last Saturday’s 3-1 win at Doncaster Rovers.

Lita says their contributions emphasised Albion need 18 players, not just 11, as they battle against a long injury list.

The marksman borrowed from Swansea told The Argus: “Everyone has to be ready. Eleven people aren’t going to win you a game.

“You need everyone. That’s why they have seven players on the bench nowadays. That gives a manager options and he needed them and it worked out for us.”

Lita has been impressed by head coach Oscar Garcia and the Seagulls as he pushes for his first start tomorrow against Blackburn Rovers at The Amex, with Albion five points adrift of the play-off places in 12th.

He said: “The club, the organisation, the staff and everything is top drawer. We are going the right way about things. If we keep going we won’t be far off.

“He (Oscar) wants you to play football, he doesn’t want you to just smash the ball up the pitch. He is a very calm you and he wants you to enjoy your football.”

Oscar’s defensive resources are increasingly under threat from suspension after Inigo Calderon replaced the concussed Bruno at Doncaster and then got booked.

Both Spanish right-backs are now on four yellow cards, one away from a ban.

Meanwhile, The Argus understands Dundee United’s 21-year-old Turkish centre-forward Nadir Ciftci is not on Oscar’s radar.

Albion have been linked with former Portsmouth striker Ciftci by the Dundee Evening Telegraph.