Alan Navarro has one last chance to stake his claim for a contract with Albion at Scunthorpe tomorrow.

The former MK Dons midfielder remains on trial, together with ex-Crystal Palace youngster Jamie Smith, as the Seagulls complete their programme of friendlies against the Championship newcomers at Glanford Park.

Albion have ended their interest in two other trialists, Danny Spiller and Andreas Chronis, but Navarro, 28, is still very much in their thoughts.

The Liverpudlian has been with them for most of pre-season and manager Russell Slade has been impressed by his know-how.

Slade’s assistant, Dean White, said: “He played regularly last year in a team that reached the play-offs and he’s got pedigree. He started off at Liverpool and I think Tranmere paid a quarter of a million pounds for him.

“He’s a good passer of the ball and he wants to play how we want to play, through midfield. He’s a good talker as well.

“Midfield is not the only area we need to strengthen but it is a priority. Seventeen players have left and we have signed seven, so there is still a lot of work to be done.

“We just escaped relegation last year and we need to keep improving. We are trying to bring in better players and that is an ongoing process.”

Craig Davies is counting his blessings after escaping a suspension for the start of the season proper as a result of his red card at Torquay on Tuesday.

The Welsh striker, suspended tomorrow, would have missed the game anyway with a sore knee sustained in the challenge by Torquay’s Mark Ellis which led to an altercation and Davies’ dismissal.

Fears over renewed knee problems for Nicky Forster following surgery at the end of May have been allayed.

The veteran marksman limped away from the Torquay game, his first start of pre-season.

“I came off after an hour with others as planned,” he said. “The knee was sore at times but the bone bruising will account for that over a short period.”