Gus Poyet has told his returning loanees they can still force their way into his plans.

But Jimmy McNulty was last night being linked with a move back to Scunthorpe United after the Championship club vowed to sign a left-back by the weekend.

Iron boss Nigel Adkins would not reveal his target but said he was under contract at another club.

Craig Davies became the latest man to leave Poyet’s squad yesterday when he reached a settlement for the remaining year of his contract and signed for a season at Chesterfield.

The move allows Davies to team up again with Spireites manager John Sheridan, under whose guidance he produced arguably the best football of his career at Oldham.

He follows Jake Wright and Liam Dickinson as the third of six players loaned out last season by Poyet to now leave Withdean on more permanent transfers.

Future plans for Andrew Whing, James Tunnicliffe and McNulty, all of whom were also loaned by Poyet, will inevitably now come under the spotlight.

The defenders, who had spells at Chesterfield, MK Dons and Scunthorpe respectively, are all in pre- season training with Albion.

Poyet said: “I respect those players because they are under contract with me.

“I don’t know what happens next. It could be good for them to stay and fight for place and try to play regularly here.

“It’s not easy. I can’t tell them they will play here week in, week out.

“What I can say is whoever is playing best will be in the team.”

Davies struggled to make an impact after signing for then Albion boss Micky Adams midway through the 2008-09 season.

He rejoined Adams at Port Vale during a loan spell towards the end of last season.

However, the Vale boss admitted to The Argus in May he could not afford to keep the Wales international on a full transfer.