Vicente could step up his recovery from injury with a run-out in the reserves, as long as Albion can find a suitable match for the Spanish playmaker.


  A thigh tendon injury has limited the former Valencia star's Championship involvement for the Seagulls to one brief appearance as a substitute at the start of the season.


  Boss Gus Poyet said: "It's very close. He was nearly training with us this week. It was just a matter of doing some extra work on his fitness and not to force him.


  "As soon as he comes back he would like to play, that's the other issue with Vicente. He's not going to come back, train for three days, and expect to be out for another two or three weeks, so we are trying to manage that in a way that as soon as he joins training he is fit enough to cope with it and start being part of the squad.


  "Then we'll see if we have got a very good game for the reserves at that time. It would be perfect for him to play but it would have to be a nice one. We don't want to send him anywhere where it's going to be an ugly Monday night, raining and cold. I don't think he would like that."


  Leading marksman Craig Mackail-Smith should be back to lead the attack against Middlesbrough at The Amex on Saturday after recovering from a hamstring injury.


  Poyet said: "When your top scorer is fit you have got a better chance to win the game. Macca has been impressive, absolutely different class this year.


  "The idea is to make sure he is fit enough to start the game and for how long you can use him. That is going to depend on today and tomorrow."


  Andrew Crofts and Will Buckley (both hamstring) are also available for Boro's visit.