Shaun Wilkinson was handed his full League debut for Albion against the Canaries at a scorching Withdean.

Wilkinson joined Bobby Zamora upfront as boss Martin Hinshelwood reverted from 4-3-3 to his favoured 4-4-2 formation.

The 20-year-old Youth Team product almost chipped a late winner after coming on for the Seagulls towards the end of Tuesday's 0-0 home draw against Coventry.

Portsmouth born Wilkinson arrived at Albion as a forward before featuring regularly for the Reserves in midfield or defence.

Hinshelwood converted him back to his original front running role during the pre-season programme.

With no further progress on Albion's bid to sign former West Ham marksman Paul Kitson, it was down to Wilkinson to provide more support for Zamora, who was rejected by Norwich as a 15-year-old.

Wilkinson's inclusion in the starting line-up came at the expense of veteran club captain Paul Rogers.

Daniel Harding, 18, another of the Seagulls' young prospects, was preferred to Rogers on the bench.

Norwich's season would have begun in the Premiership tomorrow at Highbury had they not been beaten on penalties by Birmingham in the play-off final last season.

Manager Nigel Worthington named an unchanged side for the third match running after the East Anglians emulated Albion's haul of four points in the first two games.

Danish striker David Nielsen remained among the replacements, despite coming on to grab a late equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Rotherham which followed last Saturday's convincing 4-0 victory over Grimsby at Carrow Road.

The hot weather which traditionally accompanies the start of the season arrived a week late as far as Nationwide League clubs are concerned.

The conditions may also have played a part in Hinshelwood's decision to rest Rogers.

He is 37 now and it would have been a big ask, bearing in mind that he played for an hour at Burnley last Saturday and then virtually the whole match against Coventry.

Albion: Michel Kuipers; Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Gary Hart, Charlie Oatway, Paul Brooker, Richard Carpenter, Robbie Pethick, Shaun Wilkinson, Bobby Zamora. Subs: Marney, Hammond, A. Hinshelwood, Harding, Petterson.

Norwich: Robert Green; Darren Kenton, Adam Drury, Craig Fleming, Phil Mulryne, Gary Holt, Iwan Roberts, Steen Nedergaard, Paul McVeigh, Clint Easton, Mark Rivers. Subs: Nielsen, Notman, Heckingbottom, Russell, Crichton.

Referee: Mr D. Gallagher (Oxfordshire).