Two key figures in Albion's promotion last season have been warned they are no longer automatic choices.

Nathan Jones and Gary Hart were regulars in the wide midfield positions, but they have lost out so far to new signings Albert Jarrett and Darren Currie.

Manager Mark McGhee said: "I am not convinced simply putting them back in is suddenly going to change our fortunes. That is why we have brought in other players.

"I think they will both have a role to play, but it is probably going to be one at a time and one on the bench, rather than as previously relying on them."

Jones and Hart have not started a match so far this season, although they were brought on in the second half of last Saturday's 1-1 home draw against Coventry.

"I had to assess how good last season's team could get," McGhee said. "Both of those boys contributed hugely last season to us getting promoted, but they were both part of the squad that were relegated before.

"I was determined to learn about Albert Jarrett and Darren Currie as quickly as possible. I am a lot clearer now about what I think both of them can do and the roles they can play."

Jones' hopes of being involved on the left at Wigan on Saturday will not be helped by the return from a one-match suspension of new England under-21 international Dan Harding.

McGhee could play Harding and Kerry Mayo at the JJB Stadium at the expense of Jarrett, leaving Jones further down the pecking order.

"Kerry has proven that maybe we need both him and Dan in the team," McGhee said.

"At the moment, because we are short, we need our 11 strongest players, particularly going away from home to Wigan.

"We are going to need a little bit of experience as well as the enthusiasm which the young lads bring us, so it might be that Dan and Kerry are required in some shape or form."

Jones and Hart, who was operating as an orthodox striker, played for the Reserves as they opened their Pontin's Holidays Combination League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Southend at Worthing last night. The side also featured Chris and Stephen May, sons of former Albion centre half Larry May.

Keeper Chris, currently on the bench for the first team, with Ben Roberts injured, excelled in the first half.

He saved a 24th-minute penalty, conceded by captain Dean Hammond.

The midfielder fouled Joe Ilott as he tried to convert a cross from close range, but May dived to his right to keep out Jim Corbett's spot-kick.

May also made a sprawling one-handed stop from an acrobatic volley by Michael Husbands, while Adam Barrett had a header for the visitors disallowed for a push.

Hammond made amends for his earlier infringement by firing Albion ahead on the hour after the Southend defence failed to clear a cross from the diminutive Dean Cox.

The woodwork rescued Dean White's young team with 15 minutes left, Ilott hitting a post, but substitute Tom Byrne equalised seconds before the final whistle with an explosive finish.

Albion Reserves: C. May; Reid, S. May, El-Abd, Elphick, Hammond, Cox, Lee, Hart, B. Watson, Jones. Subs: Fillery, Martin, Mountford, Gatting for Watson (injured 46), Carey.