ALBION boss Gus Poyet is close to unleashing David Lopez.

The former Athletic Bilbao midfielder has been given less game time so far than any of the new signings but that could be about to change.

Lopez was an unused sub at Watford on Tuesday after coming on for the last eight minutes of the Seagulls’ previous victory at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

The 30-year-old could be more involved, either from the start or the bench, at Millwall tomorrow. Poyet said: “David is really close. He didn’t play any part on Tuesday, because of the type of game it was.

“There are games that will be more suitable for David. “I think he has got a great chance to play on Saturday, for example.

“We’ve talked about it and he understands, so everything is fine, but he will play sooner or later.

“He knows more about the pace of the game here now, because in training it has been at that level.”

Poyet is using his own experience of coming to England as a player from foreign shores to manage Lopez and the timing of his introduction.

The Uruguayan said: “You can go back to any foreigner that has come to England.

“Some people will adapt in one week, some in six months or even a year, because things are different.

“Especially because of his qualities and with my experience I am trying to do it my way in making decisions for him. There is going to be a moment when he is in and then it’s up to him but it’s closer than people think.”

Welsh international midfielder Andrew Crofts is back in contention for Millwall after three weeks out with hamstring trouble but injury-plagued Spanish playmaker Vicente is not scheduled to return to full training for another ten days.