James Tunnicliffe is resigned to his future lying away from Albion.

Tunnicliffe, pictured right, will report back with the rest of the squad for pre-season training later this month.

The out-of-favour centre half still has a year left on his contract with the Seagulls but expects to be surplus to requirements and looking for another club.

Tunnicliffe spent the whole of last season on loan to Bristol Rovers after ending the previous season with MK Dons.

The 22-year-old former Stockport giant has not played for Albion since their FA Cup victory at Torquay 17 months ago and there is little prospect of that situation changing.

Gordon Greer, Adam El-Abd, Tommy Elphick and Lewis Dunk are all ahead of Tunnicliffe in the pecking order.

Boss Gus Poyet has expressed a desire to sign another central defender, depending on how long El-Abd is ruled out by a stress fracture of the foot and Elphick by a ruptured Achilles.

Poyet told The Argus: “He (Tunnicliffe) is under contract and he's coming back to train with us on the 27th.

“He knows his position and it's going to be up to him and the club to resolve what is going to be best for everyone.”

Jimmy McNulty is in a similar situation to Tunnicliffe. The injury-plagued left-back has not featured for Albion since the FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa in January 2010.

McNulty had two loan spells at Scunthorpe but the 26-year-old Liverpudlian returned to the Seagulls in December for surgery to repair a persistent ankle problem.

Poyet said: “It's the same with Jimmy. We will assess his injury and form during the summer.He will be fully fit for the start of the season.”

Albion are already searching for fullback cover for Inigo Calderon and Marcos Painter, which would reduce the chances of assistant manager Mauricio Taricco being involved again next season.

Poyet added: “We haven't made a decision. He will probably be training and doing pre-season, like he did last year.

“It will depend on many things. At the moment we are trying to get a player.”