Albion manager Mark McGhee is pressing ahead with plans to sign a goalkeeper on loan, because car crash victim Michel Kuipers will be out for a month.

The Seagulls need cover for No. 1 Ben Roberts after Kuipers escaped with minor head injuries from an accident nine days ago.

McGhee revealed: "We have waited to hear from the doctor and it was only really on Thursday that we were able to get any sort of accurate prognosis.

"Michel is probably going to be out for about a month, so we will now look for a goalkeeper.

"Mentally he has been affected by it. The boy has been very lucky, so we will give him a bit of time and look for a goalie."

McGhee is likely to stick with 42-year-old goalkeeping coach John Keeley on the bench for the LDV Vans Trophy tie at Queens Park Rangers a week tomorrow.

"Unless something happened to Ben I'm not terribly worried about the Queens Park Rangers game," McGhee said. "It's the Port Vale game really after that."

Kuipers, driving his wife's Mazda, was on his way into training when the collision took place with a Vauxhall Astra driven by an on-duty policewoman, who suffered a wrist injury.

The popular Dutchman had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters. He was airlifted to the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath but was allowed home the following day.

Kuipers was back at the training ground on Friday for the first time since the crash on Ditchling Beacon Road in Brighton.

Club physio Malcolm Stuart said: "After everything that has gone on it was pleasing for everyone to see him and I think it helped Michel to see everybody.

"We are happy with the way things have progressed. All the stitches have now been removed.

"From a football injury point of view we are dealing with quite severe muscle spasm and from Monday Michel will be back with us on a daily basis to begin rehabilitation."

Roberts said: "It's a big relief that he is okay. When the manager came out that morning and told us it was hard.

"We all drive into training. You realise it can just happen to anyone any time. Everyone gets on so well. It's a good club to be around, so when something like that happens it hits everyone."

Albion reserve team captain Shaun Wilkinson has joined Havant and Waterlooville on a free transfer.