Albion could turn back to teenage defender Ben White to bolster their defensive cover for Saturday's trip to Leeds United.

Fikayo Tomori was the only defender on the bench for last Friday's win against Derby at the Amex, with Shane Duffy, Connor Goldson, Seb Pocognoli and Gaetan Bong all sidelined.

The Seagulls' casualty crisis has deepened further since then.

Skipper Bruno was forced off in the second half against the Rams by a groin injury, placing a question mark over his availability for the visit to Elland Road.

Sam Adekugbe, a contender for a substitute role in Yorkshire, went off ten minutes into his comeback from hamstring trouble in the under-23s at Aston Villa on Monday night.

 

Manager Chris Hughton is running out of options. The only other defenders he has are Liam Rosenior, Lewis Dunk, Uwe Huenemeier, 19-year-old Chelsea loanee Tomori and recent signing Vegard Forren, who is playing catch-up with his fitness.

White, awarded a new contract in January, featured in the first team squad at the beginning of the season, when Goldson and Huenemeier were injured and Duffy was still at Blackburn.

The 19-year-old central defender was an unused sub for the opening four Championship matches and featured in League Cup wins against Colchester and Oxford.

He returned to the bench for the FA Cup exit at Lincoln in January.