Albion manager Chris Hughton is weighing up whether to add a winger to his January shopping list.

Hughton has lost Solly March to a knee injury sustained at Derby on Saturday.

Kazenga LuaLua, sidelined since September by groin trouble, is due to resume training next week but Hughton does not expect him to be ready for the busy festive programme.

Rajiv van La Parra’s loan from Wolves effectively ends on December 29, so a lot will depend on how soon the long-term injury list, which also includes Liam Rosenior, clears.

Hughton told The Argus: “You have to appreciate that players are on their way back. Liam Rosenior did a really good job for us in that wide right position, Kazenga is back, so that also has to come into the thinking, but it is an area at the moment where we could end up being a little bit light, so we’ll take that into consideration.

“We also have (Elvis) Manu, who has played wide more so in a 4-3-3. You can’t just keep bringing in players because you then end up having too many in the squad that are not playing. It’s about getting that balance, keeping the squad as tight and competitive as you can.”

Back-up central midfielder Andrew Crofts is likely to return to the bench at Queens Park Rangers tonight after missing the last four matches with hamstring trouble.

Striker Sam Baldock has provided another chink of light for Hughton in the injury crisis threatening to engulf his undefeated table-toppers with a sooner than expected recovery from thigh damage which has ruled him out since early November. He returns to full training next week.

Hughton said: “We have a few injuries at the moment but I think we’re still competitive enough and there are still options. They are cut down a little bit but you will find that with most teams in the Championship. It’s something we have to cope with and make sure we are still competitive.”

Hughton regards mid-table Rangers as a big threat to the Seagulls’ 20-match unbeaten run in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s second match in charge.

He said: “When you look at the team on paper and what they have on the bench they have got quality, there’s no doubt.

“They are on a good run at the moment. They might not be winning the amount of games they would like but they have become a tighter unit and they are capable of winning. I would expect them to have a good season.”