Aaron Hughes has given Albion an injury boost with a quick recovery from injury.

The ankle damage suffered by the Northern Ireland defender in last Saturday's defeat at Bournemouth is nowhere near as serious as feared.

Hughes is back running. He is out of tomorrow's home game against Blackburn but should be back in contention for the Seagulls' next game after the international break at Norwich on November 22.

Boss Sami Hyypia was worried Hughes may have suffered length ligament damage after initial tests revealed there was no break to the bone.

Hyypia said this morning: "Actually it's looking surprisingly good. I'm very happy for Aaron that he won't be missing for a long time.

"Yesterday he was running already. Now it's a case of coming to the pitch and doing something with the ball.

"I think tomorrow comes a little bit too early. But I'm very happy for him that he will be fit very quickly."

The rapid recovery by Hughes also eases, after the international break, the headache for Hyypia of having six loan signings but only scope to include five in his matchday squad.

The versatile Greg Halford was drafted in on a month's loan from Nottingham Forest this week, primarily as cover for Hughes.