Albion boss Steve Coppell has revealed the identity of the most important member of the camp in the fight for first division survival, and it's not Bobby Zamora.

Coppell is depending on the expertise of physio Malcolm Stuart to reduce a crippling casualty list, led by his star striker.

Six members of the squad, including the Seagulls' top three front men, have been under treatment ahead of the home clash against Reading.

One of them, Paul Kitson, remains a long-term absentee following back surgery.

Zamora missed Wednesday's 3-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest with ankle, heel and hamstring knocks and Barrett has been absent for three games because of right knee ligament damage.

Central defenders Dean Blackwell (hamstring) and Adam Hinshelwood (dislocated shoulder) are other long-term victims, while goalkeeping understudy Andy Petterson has been kept off the bench for the last two fixtures by a calf problem.

Coppell said: "I'm sure this happens at many clubs, but I feel very much if I had my best eleven available on a week-to-week basis we would get out of trouble.

"The most important man at this club at the moment is the physio and Malcolm is working his socks off to try and get everyone fit.

"We are obviously a lot more effective when we have got the likes of Bobby Zamora, Graham Barrett and Paul Kitson available, because we have options up front then.

"If the squad I have at the moment were all fully fit then I think we are capable of taking points off anyone."

Paul Brooker, who deputised up front with Gary Hart at the City Ground on Wednesday, cannot wait to have Zamora, Barrett and Kitson back.

"They are three quality strikers who would probably get into any team in this League," said the former Fulham winger.

"Myself and Harty just tried to fill their boots, but people like Bobby and Paul have got great upper body strength as well, where as we are not the biggest. I'm sure when we get them back we'll be flying."