Andrew Crofts could return to action for Albion this week.

The injury-plagued midfielder was part of the training camp at Tignes in the French Alps but was not risked in Saturday’s friendly against FC Meyrin in Switzerland.

Crofts has not played since October, when he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury for the second time in ten months.

Boss Chris Hughton said: “He’s not far away. It was our decision, because of the timing. We just feel we need to give him that little bit more but he probably could have played.”

Albion have games away to Southampton on Wednesday behind closed doors (6pm) and at Lewes on Saturday (3pm).

Hughton used 22 players against Meyrin. Sam Baldock and Solly March both provided first-half goal assists in their 45-minute run-outs following their injury problems last season.

Skipper Gordon Greer, meanwhile, lasted only seven minutes before being withdrawn as a precautionary measure due to groin discomfort.