Mauricio Taricco is making a shock playing comeback with Albion, six years after his last appearance in English football.

Boss Gus Poyet’s Argentinian assistant plays for the reserves tonight in their opening Combination League fixture of the season against Gillingham at Lancing (7pm).

Albion are short of cover at left-back for first choice Marcos Painter and Taricco, pictured, is still only 37.

He was playing part-time in Sardinia when Poyet appointed his former Tottenham team-mate as his No. 2 last November.

Reserve team chief Charlie Oatway told The Argus: “When you watch him in training, or he has to join in, he is certainly not out of his depth and we need a bit of cover there so who better?

“It might be for only a game or so. He is just going to help us out at the moment.”

Taricco made more than 300 appearances in a ten-year career in English football with Ipswich, Spurs and West Ham.

He tore a hamstring less than half-an-hour into his one and only appearance for the Hammers against Millwall in November 2004.

Taricco offered to have his contract with the club cancelled as he retired from English football, earning plaudits for his honesty from manager Alan Pardew.

Spanish trialist Diego Camacho, a potential defensive midfield replacement for long-term knee injury victim Alan Navarro, also plays at Culver Road tonight along with England under-17s captain Jake Caskey.

Poyet got a first proper look at 33-year-old Camacho, who has La Liga experience with Sporting Gijon, Valladolid and Levante, during training yesterday.

The Albion boss said: “He trained really well. He has got something interesting. We need to check a little bit more on his fitness. That is why he is playing tonight.”

Albion: Walker; Whing, Cook, Hall, Taricco; Battipiedi, Camacho, Caskey; Hart, Holroyd, Baz.