Adam Virgo was today waiting for the verdict on a knee injury which is threatening his preparations for the new season.

Albion's top scorer and player of the year last season missed Saturday's 2-0 friendly defeat to Le Havre in France.

A check-up this afternoon will reveal whether the pain he felt on a training run is related to an injury which briefly sidelined him at the end of last season and whether he can make a swift return to training.

Despite defeat, Virgo's injury was the only negative for Albion from their trip across the channel.

Virgo said: "I had an operation in the summer to clean out some cartilage and I had a good rest over the summer.

"Obviously pre-season is quite hard and it was too much too quickly.

"We went running on Wednesday morning and I felt a sharp pain in my knee.

"Hopefully we can find out what the problem is and go from there.

"I don't want to miss pre-season but we need to take things carefully.

"It's the knee I had the operation on but until I see the specialist I don't know if it's related to that or if it's a new injury.

"I'm really disappointed because I've been watching the lads do all the running and I want to to do it with them.

"We'll take it day by day and hopefully I can be fit for the start of the season."

Seagulls boss Mark McGhee does not expect to see Virgo in action for another fortnight but said: "It's not serious. It's just one of these things you have to live with."

Jason Dodd, who was pulled out of the Le Havre game on Saturday morning because of a toe injury, is being lined up for action next weekend, when Albion go to St Albans on Friday and Lewes on Sunday.

McGhee and his squad travelled home yesterday delighted with their week's work at Le Havere's impressive new training base.

The Seagulls boss said: "We've got everything we wanted from the week. The boys have had a lot of training sessions which they've applied themselves to brilliantly and we've made a lot of progress.

"They've worked really hard, they have been disciplined and made my job very easy."

Albion were back in training today and visit Worthing on Wednesday.