Tommy Elphick has been singled out for special praise - as Albion's best player so far this season.

Nicky Forster believes the centre half has been the pick of the bunch in the first five games.

The Seagulls' attacking spearhead has now challenged the rest of the squad to perform with similar consistency.

Elphick, an unused sub on the opening day at Crewe, has started the last four matches and earned a new contract in the process.

Forster, who scored his first two goals for the club against Southend on Saturday, said: "I am not sure anyone has really stood out this season, apart possibly from Tommy Elphick. I think he has been superb.

"He has really started in a good vein of form and we have all got to try and emulate that.

"All of us have got to show that bit of consistency week in and week out and put good performances together back-to-back."

Elphick will partner Guy Butters or Joel Lynch as he tries to celebrate his 20th birthday with victory against Millwall tomorrow.

Lynch moved into the centre when Sam Rents replaced Butters in the second half against Southend.

Boss Dean Wilkins said: "We needed to try and get the back four higher up the pitch. We felt with Sam coming on at leftback he would give us some quality going forward.

"Also, with Joel slipping in alongside Tommy Elphick, with all due respect to Butts it gave us a little bit more mobility and pace in the middle."

Forster, 34 on Saturday, is likely to be paired up front with Alex Revell or Bas Savage against Millwall after leading the line alone in the first half of the 3-2 comeback victory over Southend.

He said: "We worked hard but we didn't look quite as fluent as we did when we went back to 4-4-2 in the second half if I am honest.

"Having said that, we had a couple of chances in the first half."