Peter Taylor today hailed young Albion leftback Dan Harding as a potential international successor to Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge.

The former Seagulls chief has included Harding in his England under 21 squad for tonight's friendly against Ukraine at Middlesbrough.

Taylor said: "Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge have been terrific leftbacks for the senior team. But before Ashley came on to the scene, we didn't have enough of them.

"I looked at it and thought could we get another left-footed leftback through?

"Dan was a young boy when I was at Brighton. Last year he kept a very good leftback (Kerry Mayo) out of the team for the last two of three months of the season and Brighton hardly conceded a goal."

Albion manager Mark McGhee believes Harding's surprise call-up is a timely reminder to the player of his talents.

He is hoping the 20-year-old returns from international duty full of confidence after an un-nerving start to the season.

Harding was suspended for last Saturday's visit by Coventry after conceding a penalty and being sent-off against Plymouth at Withdean four days earlier. He also gave a goal away in Albion's opening day defeat at Reading.

"It's an enormous confidence booster, particularly training with the types of players he is training with," McGhee said.

"He has got a massive future. Just because he has made a poor start doesn't make him a bad player overnight. He is a good athlete with a great attitude and he'll come through it."

McGhee is sweating on Harding and Alexis Nicolas reporting back fit from international duty for Saturday's big test at table-topping Wigan.

The on-loan Chelsea midfielder is with Cyprus under-21s for their home friendly tonight against Albania.

Charlie Oatway's chances are touch and go for the trip to the JJB Stadium. He will be given until Friday, when the team travels, to prove he has recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in the defeat at Reading on the opening day of the season.

Goalkeeper Ben Roberts has suffered a setback in his bid to recover from a back problem.

Simon Rodger returned to training with the rest of the squad yesterday for the first time since suffering cruciate knee liagment damage last September. McGhee estimates it will be the end of October at earliest before he is back in contention.