Jamie Murphy is "very unfortunate" to be out of the Albion squad and boss Chris Hughton has reassured the Scottish winger he is still very much in his thoughts.

Murphy has not featured in the matchday 18 for the last three games since starting last month's defeat at Nottingham Forest.

The winger has lost out to Jiri Skalak - who was also left out for a spell - and Solly March.

Hughton told The Argus: "Jamie's been very unfortunate. It's really a consequence of managing the squad and the bench.

"Sometimes I'll have two defenders on the bench, sometimes one wide player when I've got two playing with two strikers.

"It's just the balance of the squad. Solly's made an impact at times when he's come on and it's just a choice.

 

"He's certainly very much in there, as he has always been. It's just cirumstances at the moment. We are going to need everybody at their levels."

March is pushing for a return to the starting line-up against Blackburn today after a spectacular goal against Denmark on Monday for England under-21s, who compete in the Euro finals this summer.

Hughton said: "A lot of players will be trying to push themselves into the reckoning and I'd like to think he's done himself no harm.

"But more so for us it's good. He hasn't had the game time he would have liked, so it's good to see him get that game under his belt."