Albion manager Mark McGhee today called on Leon Knight to prove he is hungry to play against West Ham.

Last season's top scorer has been suspended for the Seagulls' last two matches.

Knight insisted last week he is not in financial ruin after he was declared bankrupt.

Now McGhee is weighing up whether the former Chelsea striker is in the right frame of mind to come straight back into the starting line-up for Saturday's crunch clash with the Hammers at Withdean. "One of the things Leon has got to do this week is convince me how desperately he wants to play on Saturday," McGhee said.

"I need to see Leon tearing it up to show me he is absolutely bursting to get a game against West Ham.

"Otherwise I have got to assume these things are playing on his mind and therefore he is not in the right frame of mind to come straight back in."

McGhee has a variety of attacking alternatives to take on the Hammers following the parts played by 18-year-old Jake Robinson and Chris McPhee in last Saturday's second half comeback at Burnley. Robinson is nursing an injured left shoulder but will be fit.

Gary Hart is also available after a two-match ban and McGhee could still involve an apologetic Mark McCammon following their Burnley bust-up.

"I'm not saying it won't be the team that finished against Burnley but it is not as straightforward as saying we played well in the second half and that will work again," McGhee explained.

"We have to look at it carefully, see what Leon's attitude is. We are still waiting on McCammon, we know what to expect from Harty, so it's whether we bring him back in immediately. It's good that I've got more options."

McCammon plays in the first half for the reserves against Stevenage at The Gladwish Stadium, Worthing, tonight (7pm).