Chris McPhee made just a couple of substitute appearances when Albion were relegated two seasons ago.

The Eastbourne youngster, fitness permitting, is destined for much more of a front line role this time in the three matches which will decide the Seagulls' Championship future.

A place on the bench is the very least he can expect against West Ham at Withdean on Saturday after the contribution he made to Albion's recovery at Burnley last Saturday.

Manager Mark McGhee described McPhee's second-half performance, when he partnered influential young sub Jake Robinson, as "his most complete as a centre forward since I came to the club".

It has given the 22-year-old renewed belief following a campaign ruined by breaking a bone in a foot twice.

"It's brilliant," McPhee said. "The manager has got a lot of options up front at the moment, especially after recalling Jake (from Aldershot) and his performance at Burnley.

"It is very heartening for me personally that he gambled on me. He said at half-time that I had done well enough but he felt there was still more in me.

"In the second half he was delighted with my performance and I was personally quite pleased with it as well. That is great news for me and for my confidence."

McPhee probably feared the worst after struggling in the first half at Burnley alongside Mark McCammon.

He was substituted before half-time on his previous start at Stoke early last month, but McCammon's well-publicised flare-up with McGhee during the interval at Turf Moor ensured his match-turning link-up with Robinson.

"Leon (Knight) and Gary (Hart) are both back, so it has put another idea in the manager's head," McPhee said. "If he wants to play either Jake or me he knows we are up to the job after last Saturday.

"We worked well together. We got the ball into little pockets, I was able to drop off Jake and he was staying high up the pitch and keeping them deeper.

"We've played a lot in the reserves and, coming through Dean Wilkins (youth coach), we've been taught the same sort of things.

"It's nice to play up front with Jake, because he has got that little bit of pace in behind. It allows me to drop into holes and try to create opportunities for other players.

"I like to mix my game up. I feel as though I have got the pace to get in behind and challenge for balls and create.

"I feel as though I have got an all-round game, but it's not quite the finished article. I have been injured for a while and I am still a long way off."

Albion are still a long way off being safe, despite successive points against Leicester and Burnley, but the mood in the camp is positive.

They visit Rotherham a week on Saturday, then entertain Ipswich on the final day.

"We are hoping it won't go to the last game again, that after Saturday we will have the three points and things will look a lot different," said McPhee.

"We're very buoyant. We are unbeaten in two now and if we remain unbeaten for the rest of the season we believe we will stay up.

"Saturday is a home game and we feel as if we can win it. It's West Ham, but after the second-half performance against Burnley we feel as if we can get the three points."

McGhee thought four points would be enough before the Burnley deadlock and he has not changed his mind.

"I've looked at the fixtures that all the other clubs have and I am convinced that one win, three points, will keep us up," he said.

Three more draws could do it but Albion fans will be breathing more comfortably if McPhee helps them complete a double against the unpredictable Hammers.