ALBION boss Brian Horton has told his trio of outcasts: "Prove me wrong".

Peter Smith and Derek Allan play in the Reserves against Reading at Worthing tonight (7.0).

The defensive duo have been transfer-listed, along with Danny Mills, and the Seagulls are open to offers for all three.

But Horton said: "That doesn't mean I won't use them in the first team if the need arises. We have circulated their names, but they are still under contract to us. It's up to them to prove me wrong."

Mills is banned tonight after his red card for swearing in the Sussex Senior Cup against Lewes.

Said Horton: "Danny hasn't done himself justice. He is a very good footballer who came to us on the back of not doing very well at Barnet, but pre-season he did superbly.

"Then he got injured, he has never really broken his way back into the first team and now he is suspended.

"Peter and Derek have both played a lot of first team games. They are not in my team at the moment and I've told them it's pointless at this stage of their careers to just be playing in the Reserves."

Cutting down on the number of established professionals has two benefits for Horton. It gives him greater scope to introduce more new signings and to try out youngsters in the Reserves.

"I want the younger players breaking through from the youth team to see if they are good enough to become pros," added Horton. "It's no good having senior players stopping youngsters making progress in the Reserves."

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