DALE STEPHENS has appealed to Albion boss Chris Hughton to pick him again in the FA Cup.

The influential central midfielder has played every minute of the Seagulls’ 24 Premier League matches.

He also played and scored in the third round victory at home to Crystal Palace.

Hughton is weighing up his selection for Saturday’s fourth round trip to Middlesbrough, which is followed by significant fixtures in the fight for survival away to Southampton and at home to West Ham.

Stephens, ruled out at the start of Hughton’s reign by a long-term ankle injury, does not want a rest.

He told The Argus: “Of course I want to play in it. I know more than anyone what it’s like to not be able to play football.

“I’ve had injuries. I want to play in every game and every minute possible. I am looking forward to it.”

Stephens was controversially sent-off by referee Mike Dean for a challenge on Gaston Ramirez in Albion’s ill-fated Championship promotion decider on their last visit to the Riverside Stadium in May 2016.

Stephens hopes the tie will kick-start a Premier League form revival and has dismissed the suggestion the clash has extra edge for him due to the red card incident and 1-1 result, which promoted Boro at Albion’s expense.

“No, not really,” he said. “Obviously, it wasn’t a good day the last time we went up there but it’s a different time. We’ve moved on from then and it’s a good game for us.

“In the last round it was a good performance, we were back to winning ways. You expect it to kick you on a little bit.

“It’s not done that but we get another opportunity to win a match. If we can go up there and get a good result we’ll take confidence from that.”