Dale Stephens is back in the Albion squad for the first home league game of the season against Nottingham Forest tomorrow night.

The midfielder, who has attracted transfer interest from Burnley this summer, missed Tuesday's League Cup win against Colchester at the Amex with a knock sustained in training after he was suspended for last Saturday's Championship opener at Derby County.

Manager Chris Hughton said: "He's fine, back in the squad for tomorrow. He hasn't done too much training over the last few days but he trained well today and he is back in the frame.

"It's been frustrating for him. He was touch and go for Tuesday night and I think it was the right decision. It was something he was still feeling and he could have made it worse if he had played."

 

Albion will still be without centre-half Connor Goldson for the Forest match and Tuesday's visit of Rotherham.

Goldson suffered medial knee ligament damage on the pre-season training camp in Tenerife.

Hughton said: "He won't make tomorrow and is unlikely to make Tuesday. He is out doing some real good running, so he is certainly making progress."

Lewis Dunk and Bruno resume their partnership against Forest after Rohan Ince was moved back from midfield alongside youngster Ben White at the heart of the defence against Colchester.

Hughton said: "We know we're very tight on defenders and if we happened to get another injury or couple of injuries it would make it even tighter but Rohan Ince and Ben White did very well.

"It's not the ideal situation but at the moment we are coping with it quite well."