Mark McCammon revealed today how Albion have rescued him from the chilly feeling of rejection at Millwall.

Winter arrived early for McCammon at the club which used to play down Cold Blow Lane.

The 6ft 4ins target man, frustrated by a lack of first team opportunities with the Seagulls' Championship rivals, hardly got a look-in after requesting a transfer.

His debut for Albion in last Friday's 1-0 home defeat by Stoke was his first start for two months.

McCammon, on loan for a month from the Lions, said: "It's been horrible. I've been frozen out, which isn't nice. I just want to be playing football.

"Sometimes I was training with the first team squad, but sometimes they send you over with the youth team and reserves, so it's not been nice at all.

"I am coming to the peak of my career now and I want to be playing games, establish myself and make the best of my ability.

"I think Millwall should have given me a chance, but they haven't."

McCammon's Millwall career began with contrasting promise when Mark McGhee bought him from Brentford for £100,000 in March 2003.

He was in McGhee's starting line-up for the last seven games of the season, scoring twice as Millwall just missed out on a place in the First Division play-offs for the second year running.

A serious knee injury, sustained in the closing fixture against Coventry, ruled him out until January, by which time McGhee had left for Albion and Dennis Wise had taken over.

Now McCammon, 26, is relieved to finally be reunited with McGhee after his move was put on hold last month by the Seagulls' cash crisis. Millwall relented and agreed to pay part of his wages to enable the deal to go through.

"There were complications sorting a deal out," said McCammon. "I was getting frustrated and so were Millwall and Mark McGhee.

"It's a big relief because I am coming towards the end of my contract now and it's a make-or-break season for me.

"If I can get playing, hopefully score some goals and get my confidence going then I should be alright.

"Mark McGhee is a big influence. I've got the utmost respect for him. He brings the best out of me.

"He bought me from Brentford to Millwall and brought confidence to me. I was scoring goals under him and hopefully I can produce for him again."

The early signs are encouraging. McCammon struck up a promising partnership with Leon Knight against Stoke, although Knight is suspensed for the visit of Gillingham on Boxing Day.

"They are a good bunch of lads and there is a good team spirit," McCammon said. "Everyone has made me feel welcome and they have got some decent players. Hopefully I can gel with them and we can be a force.

"I like to hold the ball up and I like getting in behind defences. I'm quite pacey and I like crosses coming into the box.

"They got the ball up to me early when I was at Millwall and Mark was the manager there. They got players around me, playing off me. I had Neil Harris next to me.

"I'll be playing with Leon, who should be playing off me as well. He is sharp and nippy so it should work out well and he should get a bit more joy.

"He's good at running with the ball and I can hold it up and also bring other people into play."

Knight and McCammon's former Cambridge United team-mate Trevor Benjamin scored nine goals between them in as many games when Benjamin joined Albion on loan from Leicester at a similar stage last season.

Success of that kind would help McCammon achieve the permanent move he is after, or at least an extended stay until the end of the season.

McGhee's original intention was to sign him for good, but Millwall were demanding a fee.

After McCammon's spell of inactivity at The Den, McGhee is pleading for patience from supporters for the player who once scored against Albion for Brentford and got departed captain Danny Cullip sent-off in the process.

"The fans have got to learn what he's about and I've got to fit him into this team to get the best out of him," McGhee said.

"It's important to use him to his strengths. He's not a silky footballer, but if we use him to his strengths he can be an effective footballer."