Teenager Chris McPhee was handed the task of deputising for Bobby Zamora at Withdean.

Albion boss Peter Taylor gave the 18-year-old striker from Eastbourne his full League debut in place of goal ace Zamora for the visit of relegation-threatened Wrexham.

Youth team product McPhee made the last of four previous League appearances as a substitute in the 1999-2000 season.

He was an unused sub for the home game against Cardiff last month and came on in the LDV Vans Trophy tie against Wycombe in October.

McPhee's selection maintained Taylor's reputation for giving youth a chance. He did just that when taking charge of England for one game in Italy and awarding David Beckham the captaincy.

The fact that Taylor was prepared to employ McPhee alone through the middle in the 4-3-3 formation adopted recently with great success emphasised his faith in the tall front man, who will not be 19 until next month.

The straight swap for Zamora, starting a three-match suspension today, was the only change to the team which defeated Huddersfield 1-0 last Saturday.

Taylor had options on the bench to change things during the game in the absence as well of Daniel Webb, who was kicking off a two-match ban.

The substitutes included Lee Steele and the fit-again Charlie Oatway.

Steele scored for the Reserves at Hassocks on Monday and against Gillingham at Worthing on Wednesday.

The only clue provided by Taylor in the great debate about who would stand in for Zamora was McPhee's omission from both of those matches.

Wrexham, starting the afternoon with only two teams below them, sprang a surprise by dropping the dangerous Lee Trundle to the bench.

He caused Albion plenty of problems in a 2-1 win at the Racecourse Ground in September, when Zamora bagged both goals and had a second penalty saved late on which would have completed his hat-trick.

Michael Blackwood took over from Trundle for the Welshmen, while Denis Smith made two further changes.

Brian Carey came in for the injured Stephen Roberts and centre half and Alex Ferguson's son Darren Ferguson was back from a one-match ban in the middle of midfield at the expense of former Albion youngster Kevin Russell.

David Walsh was called up as goalkeeping cover this morning for Nrwegian Marius Rovde, with Kristian Rogers forced to return home due to a family illness.

Albion: Michel Kuipers; Paul Watson, Danny Cullip, Simon Morgan, Junior Lewis, Gary Hart, PaulBroor, Richard Carpenter, Steve Melton, Robbie PEthick, Chris Phee. Subs: Mayo, Oatway, Steele, Jones, Lee.

Wrexham: Marius Rovde; Shaun Holmes, Brian Carey, Dennis Lawrence, Craig Faulconbridge, Darren Ferguson, Wayne Phillips, Stephen Thomas, Michael Blackwood, Hector Sam, Jim Whitley. Subs: Edwards, Trundle, Walsh, Sharp, Pejic.

Referee: Mr M. Cooper (West Midlands).