Vicente poised for start against Rams (From The Argus)

Vicente poised for start against Rams

9:30am Monday 19th March 2012 in Albion By Andy Naylor

Vicente is poised for consecutive starts for Albion for the first time since October.

The Spanish playmaker was in the team for Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Blackpool.

His corner set up Joe Mattock’s early goal and he was the Seagulls’ main attacking threat until substituted after Gonzalo Jara Reyes saw red to preserve energy for tomorrow night’s home game against Derby County.

Manager Gus Poyet said: “He was our most influential player. Everything we created was because of him. It was very unlucky that we couldn’t keep 11 on the pitch to keep him on for longer, but I’m sure he is going to recover and let’s see if we can use him again on Tuesday.

“I thought about not playing him, but now I have got him fit enough to play a longer part I will try to play him as much as I can, rather than waiting for something else to happen.”

Vicente’s only previous starts for Albion were against Ipswich and Hull in October. He returned from a punishing fitness regime to score both goals as a substitute in the last home game against Portsmouth.

Meanwhile, Albion expect to extend Gai Assulin’s loan deal from Manchester City today for the rest of the season.

A slight groin injury ruled the 20-year-old Israeli out of the squad at Blackpool. Poyet said: “It was just a precaution. We had an extra man (17 in the squad) and he was not 100 per cent fit.”