Albion manager Mark McGhee has backed Gary Elphick to rebuild his career away from the club.

Elphick rejoined St Albans on Friday for an undisclosed fee, at the same time as younger brother and fellow centre half Tommy was offered a two-year pro contract by the Seagulls.

McGhee said: "It's a really unusual set of circumstances, one brother leaving the club while another is given an opportunity.

"Gary is such a realist and such a nice boy that he is totally happy with the decision.

"It was as much his decision as ours. He has gone where he thinks his level is at the moment and he will bounce back up again."

Elphick, 20, was sent-off on his only senior start at Reading in December, a match in which his sibling later made his debut as a substitute.

He joined Aldershot on loan in January until the end of the season but made only three appearances for the Conference side, the last of them in mid-February.

Aldershot agreed to release Elphick back to Albion so that he could be bought for a nominal sum by St Albans, where he had a previous loan spell.

He has signed a contract with the Conference south club for the rest of the season and played in Saturday's 3-0 home win over Carshalton.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Tommy is one of ten teenagers offered pro deals by the Seagulls at the end of last week.

McGhee said: "Between now and next pre-season we will be doing a lot of physical work with Tommy.

"Hopefully then he will be competing for a place in the first team squad."

Joel Lynch will be fit for Saturday's trip to QPR after illness forced him to miss the second half of the goalless home draw against Preston.

Albion believe a lack of refuelling may have been responsible, particularly as the rookie defender was asked to get forward more in a revised role at left wingback.