Albion have extended the trial of French defender Jean-Martial Kipre.

Manager Dean Wilkins wants to see a bit more of the 22-year-old rightback before deciding whether to offer him a contract.

Kipre, formerly with Paris St Germain and now a free agent, has been training with the Seagulls since playing in a friendly behind closed doors against Le Havre 11 days ago.

Albion are hoping for clearance to play him in the reserves against Aldershot at Worthing on Wednesday (7pm).

Wilkins said: "The more we see him in training and the longer he has been here the more settled he has become and the more impressive he has looked to a degree."

Wilkins and his assistant Dean White are so exhausted that the search for new faces is sending them to sleep.

The management set-up has been halved since the departures of former boss Mark McGhee and his No. 2 Bob Booker last month.

A punishing workload caught up with Wilkins and White on Tuesday when they went to watch potential loan targets in two different matches.

"We turned up for the second game and fell asleep in the car," Wilkins said.

"One minute we were talking to each other, the next we were asleep, so that tells you something."

Wilkins has dismissed as "just gossip" suggestions Albion are interested in Chelsea's former England under-18 captain and centre half Michael Mancienne.

His immediate priority is putting an end to the Seagulls' five-match losing streak at high-flying Scunthorpe today and he has been impressed by the attitude of players like Gary Hart, Andrew Whing and Wayne Henderson in interviews with The Argus during the build-up.

"It's good to see players come out in the paper and say how much they want to work for their places and the club," he said.

Captain Richard Carpenter and Adam El-Abd are expected to be axed following Sunday's 3-0 home defeat by Blackpool.