Gruelling fixture schedule will test Albion's squad

The Seagulls play seven games in 25 days in April, including the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, following revised Premier League dates for trips to Chelsea and Spurs along with Cardiff's visit to the Amex.

They go to Chelsea on Wednesday April 3 ahead of the Wembley semi-final against Manchester City, which has been confirmed for Saturday April 6 with a 5.30pm kick-off and live coverage on BBC1.

Cardiff's visit on Tuesday April 16 falls between games against Bournemouth and Wolves, which is followed by Spurs at the new White Hart Lane on Tuesday April 23 live on Sky Sports.

Florin Andone (thigh) and Pascal Gross (hamstring) are currently injured, while six other members of Hughton's Premier League squad are on international duty ahead of the next match against Southampton at the Amex on March 30.

Hughton told The Argus: "We will need the squad, as many fit and up to speed players as possible.

"At this moment it's only Gross and Andone (injured) and both of them have a chance for Southampton.

"The good thing is, particularly with the Cup run, the players that haven't featured so much have at least had games.

"(Leon) Balogun, for example, is going away on international duty (Nigeria) and we're hoping he plays both games.

"I think we are a stronger squad than what we were last season and we will need that. It's a lot of games in a short period of time.

"We would have been used to that sometimes in the Championship, but we have more players now than at any other stage that haven't played in the Championship. We'll need everybody available."

The annual awards dinner at the Amex, originally scheduled for the new Spurs date, has been put back to Sunday April 28.

Awesome April

Wednesday 3rd: Chelsea (a) 7.45pm

Saturday 6th: Man City (Wembley) 5.30pm

Saturday 13th: Bournemouth (h) 3pm

Tuesday 16th: Cardiff (h) 7.45pm

Saturday 20th: Wolves (a) 3pm

Tuesday 23rd: Spurs (a) 7.45pm

Saturday 27th: Newcastle (h) 5.30pm