Albion have named an unchanged team to face Burton – and appear to be giving Anthony Knockaert another crack at a central role.

The Seagulls name the XI which started their 1-0 win over Huddersfield on Tuesday.

Boss Chris Hughton admitted after that game he was disappointed with how the ploy to use Knockaert as a second striker had gone.

The order in which the line-up appears on the club’s official tweet today suggests Knockaert will again work in support of centre-forward Tomer Hemed.

Jamie Murphy, up against his old boss Nigel Clough, could also work in that area.

Sam Baldock has travelled but is not part of the 18 as Hughton also names the same subs as in midweek.

Burton make three changes to the XI which kicked off their 1-1 midweek draw at Fulham.

They are missing defenders Kyle McFadzean and Ben Turner to suspension and several players to injury, as well as the ineligible Chris O’Grady.

But they have enough players available to allow a return to their favoured 3-5-2 set-up.

Tom Flanagan’s return to fitness allows him to partner makeshift centre-backs John Brayford and Tom Naylor.

That releases Lee Williamson and Lloyd Dyer to operate as wing-backs.

Which in turn means four-goal Jackson Irvine can take his preferred role in a midfield trio rather than out wide.

 

The Brewers go with two small frontmen in Will Miller, who is on loan from Tottenham, and Jamie Ward.

Their side, looking to repeat recent wins here against Derby and Sheffield Wednesday, is missing John Mousinho, Lucas Akins and Damien McCrory to injury.

Striker Stuart Beavon and defender Shaun Barker, while not injured as such, are only rated fit enough for the bench.

Burton: McLaughlin; Brayford, Naylor, Flanagan; Williamson, Palmer, Choudhury, Irvine, Dyer; Ward, Miller. Subs: Bywater, Beavon, Fox, Harness, Delaney, Barker, Sbarra.

Albion: Stockdale; Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong; Murphy, Stephens, Kayal, Skalak; Knockaert; Hemed. Subs: Maenpaa, Hunt, Goldson, Sidwell, Norwood, Manu, Murray.

Ref: Geoff Eltringham (Northumberland)