Albion have not given up hope of re-signing Dean Bowditch from Ipswich.

They want the young striker back on loan once he has recovered from injury.

Bowditch, 20, has returned to Ipswich where he is under treatment for the recurring groin problem which restricted him to one start and three substitute appearances on loan to the Seagulls from November to January.

Albion assistant Dean White said: "We are waiting to hear from Ipswich what they are going to do with him.

"It has been a major disappointment really, because he wanted to be here and we wanted him here.

"He fits the criteria we are looking for. I envisaged when he first came he would be here until the end of the season. That was the deal we wanted to do."

The window for permanent transfers shuts at the end of January but Albion will still be able to loan players between February 8 and March 22 for a maximum of 93 days.

The Seagulls seem certain to lose Alex Revell and Tommy Fraser through suspension during their fight for League One survival.

Substitute Fraser joined illness absentee Revell on four bookings with a late yellow card in Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Millwall.

Both are one more booking away from a ban between now and the end of February, a period in which Albion have eight matches.