Albion will face a battle with Championship rivals if they want to bring Joe Mattock back.

Boss Gus Poyet has described the former Leicester defender as “an option” as the Seagulls look to strengthen their squad.

Mattock was a regular for the Seagulls in the second half of last season after switching his loan allegiance from Portsmouth to The Amex.

He has since been released by parent club West Bromwich Albion.

Portsmouth boss Michael Appleton is keeping tabs on the situation but, after speaking to Mattock’s agent, admits realistically his club are out of the running.

Appleton said: “I have been told there are two or three clubs who have enquired about him, and with the budgets they have, you cannot compete with that.”