Alexis Nicolas hopes Albion's Carling Cup clash at Shrewsbury tonight signals the end of a frustrating wait.

The young Cypriot international is creeping closer to regaining a starting place in the centre of midfield.

Nicolas was an unused sub in Albion's opening two games of the season, against Derby and Reading.

He made his first appearance as a 73rd-minute replacement for French debutant Sebastien Carole against Crewe at Withdean, then was brought on for the whole of the second half against Hull on Saturday after playing for the Reserves.

Nicolas has not started a game for Albion since a home defeat by Wigan in March.

The energetic 22-year-old admitted: "I was very disappointed not to start the season.

"I worked hard pre-season and got my head down, but that's the way it goes.

"I'm just trying to work to get into the team and hopefully as soon as I get my chance I can stay in there.

"I'm desperate to play. It doesn't matter whether it is the Carling Cup or the League, I want to play in every game."

Nicolas could get his wish at Gay Meadow if Mark McGhee decides to rest Charlie Oatway or Richard Carpenter.

"I don't think the manager would have used me if he didn't think I could add something," he said. "I feel I can add a lot to the team.

"Everyone is adapting to the manager's decisions. We have got to respect them and whoever he puts in there, whether it's Leon (Knight), Charlie, myself or Chippy we will do our best.

"It's about the manager deciding what combination he wants for the game.

"The other day I came on more on the right side but you have got to do a job for the team, no matter where you play. We've all got to be professional and get on with it."

Albion need a professional performance at Gay Meadow to avoid an embarrassing exit and claim their first victory of the campaign.

Nicolas knows how difficult it can be away to supposedly inferior opposition. He made a rare appearance for Chelsea when they squeezed past Scarborough in an FA Cup tie.

"We mustn't belittle Shrewsbury," he warned. "They are in the League, the game kicks-off at 0-0 and we have got to prove we are better than them.

"We can't just go out there expecting to win. If we do that we'll lose. We have to treat it as if it is a Championship match. Hopefully then we will come out on top.

"We have to prove first we have the fight to match them and then hopefully our football will come out and we will take over.

"Every win is important. They matter as much at the start of the season as the end and we need to start turning our performances into wins.'

Albion have only experienced that winning feeling once since February (at Rotherham).

The prize for victory tonight could be a big one. Nicolas began his career at Aston Villa and they are among the dozen Premiership clubs not involved in Europe who enter the Carling Cup in round two.

Nicolas refuses to look that far ahead. "If we are thinking about the next round that is no good. We've just got to win this game, then we can think about who we might get."

It is all about the present rather than the future when you are fighting to re-establish yourself and the commitment of Nicolas to Albion's cause cannot be questioned.

He put club before country at Hull on Saturday, making himself unavailable for a friendly for Cyprus the night before.

"The main thing is I want to play for Brighton and I want to play every week," he said. "I've got to keep proving to the manager that I should be."