CONNOR GOLDSON has welcomed another battle royal for his Albion first team place.

The centre-back kick-started his comeback from a knee injury by playing 64 minutes for the under-23s in last night’s 2-0 Checkatrade Trophy defeat at Southend.

He reported no ill-effects – and also said his defensive sidekick for the night Uwe Huenemeier was feeling good after the first full game of his comeback.

The pair plan to push Lewis Dunk and recent addition Shane Duffy for their places in the Championship.

Goldson’s second Seagulls campaign was put on hold by a knee ligament problem suffered in Tenerife on the club’s pre-season training camp.

He said: “It feels good to be back. The result was disappointing but it was good to be out there.

“I’m tired generally but my knee felt good.

“We said I’d do 45 to 60 minutes to see how I felt.

“I said to Rusky (under-23s boss Simon Rusk) I felt good at half-time and I’d do about another 15 so I’m happy.

“Now we will wait and see what happens.

“We’ve got a week of training before the Brentford game and I want to get back into the team as soon as possible.

“There is obviously great competition now. We have got four good centre-halves.

“It is going to be a challenge and one I’m ready for.”