Joe Bennett became the latest victim of Albion's loan merry-go-round in the home defeat by Millwall last night.

The on-loan Aston Villa left-back was omitted from the squad and Adam Chicksen recalled a day early from his loan spell at Gillingham to replace him.

Under-fire boss Sami Hyypia also rejigged the defence defeated 3-0 at leaders Derby in the previous game by handing Noittingham Forest utility player Greg Halford his full debut at centre-half at the expense of Aaron Hughes, who had been ill during the build-up.

The changes enabled Hyypia to field five loans - the maximum allowed under regulations in the matchday squad - in his starting eleven.

Halford was joined by Aston Villa pair Gary Gardner and Darren Bent, Elliott Bennett (Norwich) and Joao Teixeira (Liverpool).

Hyypia, explaining Joe Bennett's exclusion, told The Argus: "He's not injured. I have the problem of six loan players and Joao was out of one game, Greg from another.

"Joao in the last two weeks has trained very well and I wanted Greg to play, because Aaron couldn't train for a few days. He was ill during the week.

"That's why we had to call Chicksen back from Gillingham."