ALBION’S fringe men can become club heroes against Sheffield Wednesday.

That is the message from manager Chris Hughton to the players unexpectedly back in contention in his injury-ravaged squad for tonight’s second leg of the play-offs against Sheffield Wednesday at the Amex.

Robbie Reinelt, Leon Knight and Nicky Forster are among the names written into club folklore by scoring key goals in big games for the Seagulls at both ends of the table.

The likes of Andrew Crofts, Richie Towell, Elvis Manu and Uwe Huenemeier – who resumed training on Saturday after five months out – could get their own shot at glory in trying to overturn a 2-0 deficit as Hughton copes with the injury losses of influential trio Connor Goldson, Tomer Hemed and Anthony Knockaert from the first leg, together with Steve Sidwell.

Hughton said: “This is the horrible side of the game. We lost four players. Siddy has just come in but you have got three players that have been part of the last four months.

“It’s the type of game now where players can do something that will always remembered in the club history. This is the night for it.”

Away goals do not count in the play-offs, which gives Albion, bolstered in spite of their troubles by the return from a ban of Lewis Dunk, more chance of keeping alive the Premier League dream.

There is also the possibility of the tie being decided, with home advantage, in extra-time or by penalties.

Hughton said: “I’m not afraid to say the first goal is massive, although it doesn’t mean it’s the be all and end all. We could score the first, get the second, they get one back and then you’ve got to get a third.

“I can’t say what their strategy will be going into the game but I’m sure they will be talking about getting the first goal. We would be saying that if we were 2-0 up.”