Albion are struggling to find a midfield playmaker before the transfer window shuts next week.

Manager Mark McGhee revealed today that the hunt for a permanent successor to Darren Currie is likely to stretch beyond the end of the month.

Leon Knight has started the last two matches in the centre of the park in an attempt to inject some midfield creativity.

McGhee wants to sign a player in a similar mould to Currie, who was sold to Ipswich last season, and he is also trying to strengthen the squad in two other positions.

"I still think we need another centre half and I'd like to bring in a leftback," he said. "I don't mind whether one of those is a loan.

"We are also looking for that bit of creativity in midfield, either wide left or left-sided or left-footed. However, that is a position which is difficult to fill and we may not be able to before the deadline.

"We will continue to look afterwards. I can envisage a situation where we might want to do a deal to buy a player and we can loan him and then settle up at Christmas."

The transfer window closes on August 31 and does not re-open until January 1 but Albion will still be able to loan players.

Meanwhile, veteran rightback Jason Dodd is being rested for tonight's Carling Cup tie at Shrewsbury.

McGhee wants his summer signing from Southampton to be fighting fit for Saturday's Championship visit to Preston, which is followed 48 hours later by a home game against Plymouth.

Gary Hart or Adam El-Abd will take Dodd's place as the Seagulls try to avoid a repeat of last season's humbling first round exit at home to Bristol Rovers.

League Two strugglers Shrewsbury have not reached round two since 1995 but McGhee warned: "We are not good enough or strong enough as a squad to treat them with anything other than total respect."

Albion have failed so far to capitalise on some promising approach play.

"I heard Arsene Wenger say he was very happy with Arsenal's possession against Chelsea but there wasn't enough of a cutting edge," McGhee said. "He is making the same complaint as us and he has got Thierry Henry and all those guys!

"We know we have to find more of a cutting edge. Our possession is good and it's very important we believe we are doing things the right way but we must be more clinical when we get chances."

The tie must be decided tonight and the Seagulls are practising penalties today in case the teams are still deadlocked after 120 minutes.