Simon Morgan is set to make the toughest choice of his career.

Albion's veteran stopper must decide whether he has another season left in him in the First Division, or pack up with knee trouble.

Morgan has deliberately delayed a verdict on his future until the dust settles on the Seagulls' championship celebrations.

The signs are he will reluctantly concede defeat to the injury which destroyed his final season at Fulham and leaves him in pain for three days after matches.

"There is a lot of emotion about at the moment and if I answered the question now it might not be the right decision," said Morgan.

"I have got to detach myself from everything, go away for a couple of weeks, enjoy it and then say 'What is going to happen now?' That is the only way.

"I've got to because of the situation with my right knee. That is the only factor in this."

Cruciate knee ligament damage forced Morgan to miss the whole of last season with Fulham, except for a farewell 15 minute appearance as a substitute.

Now he has revealed for the first time the difficulties he has faced since former Albion manager Micky Adams signed him on a Bosman free transfer last summer.

"The only reason I have managed to keep going throughout this year is because Micky and then Peter (Taylor) and Bob (Booker) have treated me so well.

"I had a little run around last Thursday morning. That was the first thing I had done since the game at Peterborough the previous Saturday. It took 72 hours for my knee to stop aching.

"It's thanks to them that I have managed to get this far, but if you go up a division that is a factor you have got to take into consideration.

"The degeneration of the knee has built up. I've had that for ages anyway and there is nothing you can do about that. It's old age I'm afraid.

"There is nothing to stop the process. All I can do is what I have been doing, which is a lot of weights to strengthen up the muscles to protect the knee, but there is only so much of that you can do.

"I think the final nail in the coffin was two games in three days against Colchester and Bristol City.

"After getting promotion to the First Division you would bite your hand off for another year, but I had a long think last year and it took a lot of negotiating with Micky and the chairman to agree the way the contract could be structured.

"We were all worried I wouldn't be able to make a season. I promised Micky I would do a year and that's what I have done."

Morgan has played a massive part in Albion winning the Second Division title. He has hardly put a foot wrong in the centre of defence alongside Danny Cullip.

Now, the proud owner of two England under-21 caps seems set to follow the example of another stalwart of the back four brigade.

Stuart Pearce helped Manchester City to the First Division championship, then announced he would not be up to playing for them in the Premiership.

"It was spot on what he said," Morgan admitted. "Sometimes you have got to hold your hand up and say no.

"There have been a couple of times this year when I have come off and thought that.

"I turned Andy Liddell into a £10 million player when we lost at Wigan and after something like that you think you have let yourself down. I would hate to finish like that.

"Stuart Pearce has come out and made the decision and he's been honest. I think I have got to be honest with myself, with the gaffer and with the lads, because they are the most honest group of players I have ever been privileged enough to play with. It's got to be the right decision for them as much as anyone."

Morgan, 36 in September, is coming to the end of his 18th season in the game. The affable Brummie recently made the 550th League appearance of his career, the vast majority of them for Fulham. He will return to Craven Cottage once his playing days are over, but the Sports Argus columnist is not thinking that far ahead just yet.

"I love doing the media work and Jean (Tigana) has kindly said there would always be a job at Fulham," Morgan revealed. "There is a lot of talking to be done there, so a lot is going on in my mind.

"It's nice to know that is in the background, but at the moment it's me and my right knee."

Morgan may already have kicked his last ball for Albion. Taylor could rest him for Saturday's closing fixture at Port Vale to give his teenage deputy Adam Virgo more valuable experience.

If that turns out to be the case then last Saturday's championship celebration at Withdean was a fitting way for a model professional to bow out.

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