Albion are on course to extend Elliott Bennett’s loan spell from Norwich for another month.

Bennett’s return to the Seagulls was due to expire following Fulham’s visit to the Amex on Saturday.

Boss Sami Hyypia is confident he will still have the services of the right-winger for the rest of 2014.

Hyypia revealed to The Argus: “We are trying to extend Elliott’s loan, because I really like him as a character as well as a player.

“He’s a good player. He can help the team to be better. I would very much like to extend his stay.

“I am quite optimistic that it will happen. He wants to stay as well. I’m pretty sure that we can make a deal with everyone that he can stay here. I think we are talking about one month more.”

Bennett, part of Albion’s League One title winning team under Gus Poyet before moving to Norwich, galvanised Hyypia’s Seagulls in a win and a draw at home to Wigan and Blackburn Rovers in his only two outings so far.

He was ineligible to face parent club Norwich in last Saturday’s 3-3 stalemate at Carrow Road but is expected to return to the starting line-up against Fulham at the expense of Adrian Colunga or Sam Baldock.

Bennett should then be available for five more matches for Albion in December if the loan extension is sealed, including a second trip back this season to Wolves where he started his career.

Norwich may not want him FA Cup-tied by featuring for the Seagulls in the third round on the opening weekend of January.