Sam Baldock has been ruled out of Albion’s big clash with Burnley on Sunday.

But captain Gordon Greer is back in contention for the trip to Turf Moor.

Baldock suffered a left thigh injury in the second half of the Seagulls’ last outing against his former club MK Dons at the Amex 11 days ago.

His absence leaves boss Chris Hughton contemplating his strike force options.

Baldock has been partnering top scorer Tomer Hemed. Hughton also has Bobby Zamora, Dutchman Elvis Manu and Jamie Murphy, who can operate centrally as well as on either wing.

Centre-half Greer is available for the Burnley game (1.15pm) after recovering from knee trouble which has forced him to sit out the last five-and-a-half matches.

Kazenga LuaLua, missing since mid-September with a groin problem, should be back in full training by the end of the week but the Burnley fixture may come too soon for the explosive left-winger.

Albion have until November 26 to make any loan additions to the squad to cover themselves for a hectic series of key tests against fellow Championship promotion contenders before the permanent transfer window re-opens in January.

One member of the squad back on his way out is Christian Walton. The England under-21s keeper is understood to be close to completing a loan move to League Two leaders Plymouth Argyle – the club Albion bought him from – until January.

A loan switch to Bury earlier this season for Walton, third choice for the Seagulls behind David Stockdale and Niki Maenpaa, was curtailed by injury.