CHRIS Hutchings today warned promoted Albion that Wigan are prepared for the return of Leon Knight.

Knight, who scored 25 League goals last season, is available for the Seagulls after serving a three-match suspension.

Seagulls have collected just one point in his absence on their return to the First Division.

Hutchings, who played for Albion between 1983-88, at fullback and midfield, is the assistant manager at Wigan Athletic.

He said: "Knight is a good player and scores goals. We will make sure we defend properly against him and his team-mates.

"To do that, we will have to be on our toes and be prepared for whatever Albion throw at us."

Hutchings made 175 appearances for Albion and scored six goals after signing from Chelsea for £50,000.

His introduction to Albion fans was bizarre to say the least.

He was playing for Chelsea when fans from the London club invaded the Goldstone pitch and Hutchings was arrested for swearing at a policeman, who told him to leave the pitch.

He was fined £250 by Hove magistrates, by which time he had signed for Seagulls.

Hutchings joined Huddersfield for £28,000 after losing his place to Keith Dublin and then moved into management.

He has guided Bradford (twice) and Wigan to promotion.

Wigan, who narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season, have made an impressive start to the new campaign and went top of the league with an eye-catching 3-1 win at West Ham on Sunday.

But Hutchings, 47, is wary of over-confidence. He said: "We'll give Albion the same respect we gave West Ham.

"We performed well at Upton Park but it could be a case of after the Lord Mayor's show comes the dustcart.

"You've only got to look back to last season when we were doing well. Wimbledon came up and beat us and the three points we lost that day cost us dearly in the end.

"Mark McGhee's side did very well last season. They have not started so well in terms of results but they are going to come to our place and make it difficult.

"They'll want to spoil the party. It will be a tough game and I think you will see everybody beating everybody in this league.

"Albion will have had us watched. We all like to know a little bit about the opposition but it is about what you do yourselves."

Hutchings believes Wigan are stronger than last season after signing Emerson Thome, Per Frandsen, David Wright and David Graham.

He said: "The new players have added quality. We have an ambitious chairman in David Whelan and are looking to improve on what we already have.

"When little old Wigan go out and spend a million in the transfer market it shows how far we've come in a short space of time and that is thanks to David. He trusts us to spend his money wisely.

"The chairman has built a new stadium we share with the rugby club which has fantastic facilities.

"We have just had the training ground done and are going to extend it with new dressing rooms and a fitness room.

"We are a progressive club and that is down to the chairman who wants Premiership football."

Hutchings, who is the right-hand man for manager Paul Jewell, is delighted with the start but refuses to get carried away.

He said: "We can't be blase. We've got a decent side and hope to go one better and reach the play-offs at least.

"But there is a long way to go. Suspensions and injuries can change that."

Hutchings enjoyed his time at Albion. He said: "We beat Liverpool and had a run to the quarter-finals of the Cup and I got on well with the fans. Brighton is a great place to live, a mini London with the theatres and restaurants."

But he will not shed a tear should Wigan add to his former side's poor start.

He said: "Brighton's is the first result I look for. But I won't have mixed emotions when they come to our place because I have to think about Wigan these days."