Albion boss Steve Coppell expects to be without ace striker Bobby Zamora for at least the next two matches of the relegation run-in.

Zamora is certain to miss Saturday's trip to Ipswich and next Tuesday's home derby against Crystal Palace after suffering a slight hamstring tear in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United.

The blow to the Seagulls' survival hopes has been softened slightly by the news that midfielders Richard Carpenter and Simon Rodger should be fit for the Ipswich match.

Zamora sustained the injury in the opening minutes at Bramall Lane before setting up Carpenter's early equaliser and then going off just after half time.

Coppell revealed: "We've had a scan done on Bobby and he has got a slight tear, not of his main hamstring muscle but one of the side muscles.

"Because it's not the main muscle we don't expect him to be out too long, but we are probably anticipating two weeks.

"It's a muscle that isn't often injured, so there isn't a great deal of experience of how it is going to react.

"He's young, he's a good healer and I wouldn't discount anything. I know his desire is very much to play and we will take it day by day but, as an educated guess, I would think two weeks before he is back in training."

That means Zamora faces a fight to be fit for the Sky televised visit to Reading on April 4.

He will also miss the England under 21s' European Championship qualifiers away to Portugal on March 28 and against Turkey at Newcastle on April 1.

Coppell said: "If he doesn't play in the Palace game he doesn't go, it's as simple as that."

Carpenter (hip) and Rodger (ankle) were also forced off against Sheffield United.

"They are both hard as nails," Coppell said. "Chippy's had numerous knocks. He is playing with a little bit of a hernia anyway but we anticipate him and Jolly being available on Saturday.

"We feared Simon's ankle would really swell up but we were pleasantly surprised to see it wasn't so bad. If we strap it up he should be all right."

Coppell received some more good news on the injury front today when Anthony Rougier declared himself fit.

The Trinidada and Tobago striker, whose month on loan from Reading expires after the Ipswich game, is available after missing the Sheffield match with a twisted right ankle.

Paul Kitson, on the other hand, was back in the treatment room today after coming through a first-half run-out in the Reserves last night.