ALBION'S German ace Pascal Gross has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury.

The influential No.10 has been forced out of training on the comeback trail from ankle damage.

Gross resumed training prior to Albion's last away game at Newcastle but will not now be back in contention until after the next international break.

Manager Chris Hughton told The Argus: "It's a minor setback. We've had to just come down again.

"He will be outside in the early part of the week and we're hoping that he will be training by the end of next week.

"It's certainly not an issue. He's good at the moment. We just decided to ease him up a little bit."

Gross has missed six matches since sustaining the injury in the home draw against Fulham on September 1.

He will also be sidelined from Saturday's trip to Everton and the visit to Cardiff a week later.

Albion then resume after the international break at the Amex on November 24 against grief-stricken Leicester, who are trying to come to terms with the death of popular Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

The billionaire was killed with four others when his helicopter crashed outside the King Power Stadium after Saturday's 1-1 draw with West Ham.

Pilot and former Brighton College schoolboy Eric Swaffer was among the victims.

Albion have struggled for attacking cohesion and goals in the absence of Gross, relying heavily on Glenn Murray.

Hughton has used Yves Bissouma in a three-man midfield or, more recently, Solly March playing off Murray to cater without the German.

Hughton said: "Pascal is a good player and you always miss your good players but I don't want to take anything away from Solly's contribution and Bissouma's contribution.

"We're fortunate at the moment. There are teams with four or five injuries. We've got two."

Dutch midfielder Davy Propper has also been ruled out for weeks by ankle trouble.