GUS POYET has called on his Albion players to stay patient as he prepares to make another tough decision.

Competition for places in the squad is fiercer than ever and will intensify even more if injury-hit Will Hoskins is available for Saturday’s trip to Leicester.

Hoskins scored as a substitute on his only appearance so far this season at Cardiff last month.

The former Bristol Rovers marksman is in contention for a place on the bench again if he finally shrugs off the persistent hip muscle problem which has plagued him since his summer move.

Matt Sparrow was left out of the 16 for the first time for last Saturday’s win at Bristol City. The potential addition of Hoskins for the visit to the East Midlands underlines the strength in depth of Poyet’s squad.

New Spanish signing Vicente has yet to be involved, due to a shortage of match fitness, but the return to seven substitutes in the Carling Cup against Liverpool at The Amex next Wednesday will give Poyet more scope than he has for table-topping Albion’s next Championship test against Sven Goran Eriksson’s Leicester.

Poyet said: “Imagine if Will Hoskins is fit for Saturday? Then it’s decisions. We’ll see what happens during the rest of the week, how we plan it, how we are going to go and play the game.

“I’ve got a hundred agents calling me daily now, because the loan window opened the other day, and the answer is the same for them all. I am not looking for anyone now.

“I’m happy with the squad I’ve got. I’m just trying to be honest with everyone. If anybody wants to have a chat and know their situation then I will tell them.

“We know how quickly football can change. On Friday morning you can name the team, then somebody is ill and you are in. So many things can happen.”

The kick-off time for Hull’s visit to The Amex on Saturday October 15 has been put back to 5.30pm, due to a University open day restricting parking availability.

Peter Brezovan and Steve Cook have run outs for the reserves against Forest Green Rovers at Lancing tonight (7pm).