ALBION boss Brian Horton has strengthened his squad before tomorrow's transfer deadline by signing FOUR players.

Winger Scott Thomas is joining the Seagulls until the end of the season on loan from Horton's old club Manchester City. Promising youth team defender Ben Andrews has signed professional forms until the end of next season, while Crawley-born midfielder Simon Wormull and defender Jeff Woolsey have been given contracts for a month. All three have been impressing in Albion's reserves. Signing such a versatile quartet offers Horton more cover and increases competition for places, both of which the Seagulls have been sadly lacking. Said Horton: "I put Scott Thomas in the team at Man City when he was about 17 or 18. He can play on either wing or down the middle. "I think Ben Andrews looks a really good prospect, and he can play at centreback or leftback. "Simon Wormull uses the ball well, he gets forward and is quite aggressive. Jeff Woolsey has also done well in his reserve games for us. He's another who can play at the centre of defence or at rightback." Bury-born Thomas, 23 and 5ft.9ins tall, made two League appearances under Horton at Maine Road. He has been introduced as a replacement for Steve Barnes, who is expected to be recalled by Birmingham when his loan spell expires after Saturday's game at Cardiff. Andrews, 17, was born in Burton-on-Trent but has been raised in West Chiltington. He models himself on Tony Adams, having started his career as a striker then a midfielder, and has already captained the reserve team this season. Wormull, 21, was with Albion as a schoolboy. He spent six years at Spurs before moving to Brentford at the start of the season, where he fell out of favour after Mickey Adams took over as manager. Wormull suffered a foot injury in the reserves against Millwall on Monday, so he won't be available for selection at Cardiff on Saturday. Woolsey, 20, has been with West Ham, Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers. Meanwhile, former Albion striker Craig Maskell has signed for Leyton Orient on a week-to-week contract following a spell in Hong Kong.

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