Albion manager Mark McGhee today praised the way Leon Knight has responded to the axe.

McGhee has been delighted with the attitude of last season's top scorer after he was dropped to the bench for last Saturday's home defeat by Queens Park Rangers. Knight escaped another ban at an FA hearing on Tuesday following a verbal bust-up with the fourth official at Reading on the opening day of the season, when he was starting a three-match suspension.

The former Chelsea marksman, who has drawn a blank so far in the Coca-Cola Championship, then scored in a low-key friendly at Littlehampton on Tuesday night.

"He has been excellent," McGhee said.

"He was relieved not to be suspended. That has given him a lift and his attitude has been spot-on. He has been in early a couple of times this week to work on his finishing.

"His attitude was good again at Littlehampton. If anything he over-elaborated a bit. It was too easy for him, but he approached it in totally the right way."

McGhee must now decide whether to bring Knight straight back for tomorrow's trip to Gillingham.

"Leon is definitely an option," he said.

The odds, however, are against Guy Butters (calf) being fit to face his old club, even though the experienced former Gillingham centre half is expected to resume training today.

Gillingham are trying to sign England Under-21 midfielder Gary O'Neil on loan from Portsmouth after agreeing to sell former Albion loan striker Darius Henderson to Swindon.