Albion's plans to solve their injury crisis in the centre of defence by signing Southampton's Garry Monk have receded.

Monk would not be available for Saturday's promotion sell-out against leaders Chesterfield at Withdean, even if a loan deal is tied up before today's 5pm transfer deadline.

The 22-year-old stopper, Saints manager Glenn Hoddle and his assistant John Gorman are all out of the country.

Albion boss Micky Adams revealed this morning: "Monk is in Spain until Sunday and I have not spoken to Glenn yet.

"John Gorman thinks it would be okay, but Glenn would have to clear it. He is away and so too is John. We could possibly get the paperwork done, but I cannot see the point if Monk is not available for Saturday."

Adams has already been turned down by Crystal Palace's Neil Ruddock, a former team-mate at Southampton, and Huddersfield's Ken Monkou.

Andy Crosby and 18-year-old Adam Virgo are the only fit centre halves on the books, but Danny Cullip is vowing to make a quicker than expected return from ankle and elbow ligament damage.

"I thought I would get Monkou, I thought I would get Ruddock and I thought I would get Monk," Adams said.

"Now I am starting to scrape the barrel and on transfer deadline day you can end up with other people's problems if you are not careful.

"The good news is that Danny Cullip thinks he is going to be fit for April 3. If he is that would be magnificent."

Virgo is not certain to make his full debut alongside Crosby against Chesterfield. Adams is considering using Paul Rogers or Kerry Mayo as a stand-in stopper.